Claire Kirby Hughes

February 15, 1960 - April 25, 2017

Claire Kirby Hughes, beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend, passed away peacefully at home in Pittsboro, NC, April 25, 2017 after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. She was 57. Claire's family, friends and her faith were the center of her life. She was blessed to have been married to the love of her life, David Bryan Hughes for 36 years. Her two daughters, Lindsey Hughes Ventura (Cameron) of Los Angeles, California and Caroline Kirby Hughes (Alexander Bowman) of Hillsborough, NC were the highlights of her life. Claire's life-long best friend was her sister, Anne Kirby Surrett (Doug) of Charleston, SC. She was blessed with a close loving family led by her dear father William Jackson Kirby of Charleston, SC; brother in laws Michael Kent Hughes (Linda) of Mt Pleasant, SC and Arthur Tillman Hughes (Lucie) of Lexington, SC; aunts Julia Kirby Mehaffey and Vernice Norton Waddick; an uncle, Paul Norton; seven nieces and nephews and numerous cousins. She was predeceased in life by her mother, Betty Norton Kirby; and her grandparents Rev. and Mrs Charles Forest Norton and Mr. and Mrs William Causey Kirby. Claire was an outgoing, loving, active woman who made friends easily and cherished each one. She attended Miss Mason's School, College Preparatory School and Middleton High School in Charleston, SC. A natural athlete, Claire played on tennis teams in high school and college. She received an athletic scholarship and graduated from Georgia Southern University in 1981 with a BA degree in broadcast journalism. Claire had a successful career in medical sales at several companies to include 3M and Medegen. Her love for sports was a key part of her life and she especially enjoyed golf, biking, swimming and snow skiing with her husband, family and friends. Claire was sustained by her faith throughout her life and especially during her illness. She was always sharing her love of God with others and true to her character offered her own final words to provide comfort to those she loved with the request to share after her death. "This is not goodbye as I will see you all in a very short time. Be kind to one another and live your life to the fullness. Remember family, friends and fellowship are the most important thing we have in our lives. Enjoy all the art, music and beauty we have been given. Try not to sweat the small stuff because most of it is small stuff. Stay close to God and let him carry you in both the good and trying times. In the end it's not the years in your life that count but the life in your years. I Fought the fight. I Finished the race. I Kept the faith. I love you all. Claire" The memorial service will be Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 11:00am, St Andrew's Church, 440 Whilden Street, Mt Pleasant, South Carolina. The family will receive guests at a reception following the service at 38 Dalton Street, Daniel Island, South Carolina. Memorials may be made to Church of the Holy Trinity, PO Box 1388, Pittsboro, NC or to Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, OCRFA.org.