Opal Elizabeth Hughes, 69, of Mayesville, GA, formerly of Hayesville died Saturday, December 6, 2003 at her residence after an extended illness.. A native of Clay County, but had been living in Georgia for the past 48 years. She was a daughter of the late Richard Lee and Lassie Mae Donaldson Ledford. She was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by a son, Ricky Hughes.

Surviving are her husband, Clayton Hughes; two daughters, Diane Cook and her husband, Ralph of Commerce, GA, and Darlene Holman and her husband, Randy of Buford, GA; a son, Marty Hughes of Commerce, GA; two sisters, Mattie Stillwell of Hayesville, and Janet Ledford of Asheville, NC; two brothers, Kenneth and Alvin Ledford, both of Hayesville; and five grandchildren and a great granddaughter.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 Monday afternoon, Dec. 8 in the Chapel of the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville with the Rev. Swayne Carlan officiating. Burial was in the Union Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers were Joey Bleckley, Billy Mack, Matthew Hughes, and Alvin Ray, David and Scott Ledford.

The family received friends from 6:00-8:00 Sunday evening, Dec. 7 at the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville.

The family requests memorials may be made to the Union Hill Cemetery Fund, c/o JoAnn H. Woody, 685 Thumping Creek Rd., Hayesville, NC 28904.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville in charge of all arrangements.