It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Mrs. Gladys Harris Hughston, beloved educator, cherished mother, grandmother and wife, and dear friend, who passed away at the age of 81 on December 17, 2024.
Born on November 26, 1943 in Roanoke, her family moved to a farm in Fincastle in 1954. She was a graduate of Lord Botetourt High School, Class of 1962. Gladys was a lifelong teacher and guidance counselor. She was very passionate about her students and her fellow teachers. She earned her degree in English from James Madison University in 1966, the first of her family to earn a college degree. She went on to positively touch generations of students in her role as a teacher and guidance counselor. She touched the lives of countless young minds, and always had a very special place in her heart for those less fortunate than herself.
Mrs. Hughston was known not only for her exceptional teaching skills, but for her unwavering dedication to her students. And as a guidance counselor, she believed that all of the students were hers. Throughout her career in education, her family witnessed constant selflessness and giving. She bought clothes for students that she knew could not afford to replenish their school attire, with her personal money. She gave shelter to former students when they couldn’t afford it, by inviting them to stay in her home. The list could go on and on, but the sentiment is the same, Gladys Hughston was a selfless and compassionate human. And those traits are her legacy.
Outside of her professional life, Gladys was a person of faith, a loving matriarch and an avid sports fan. She found joy in many things, the act of shopping was the most popular. But, if you knew her, she found the most joy in her family. And she wanted to tell you about all of them, kids, grandkids, and her daughter-in-law.
Gladys was preceded in death by her beloved son, Bradley, and is survived by her husband, Jerry Hughston; son, Whit Hughston; her daughter-in-law, Carrie Hughston; and her three grandchildren, Clayton, Campbell and Wesley.
A celebration of Mrs. Gladys Hughston’s life will be held on January 25, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Cloverdale Church of the Brethren.
