Charles Sterling Hughes

ASBURY COMMUNITY…Mr. Charles Sterling Hughes, a resident of the Asbury Community, near Skipperville, died late Sunday afternoon, January 18, 2026, in Dale Medical Center. He was 88.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the Asbury Methodist Church with Reverend Phil Craddock officiating. Graveside services, with Masonic honors, will follow in the church cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Wednesday at the church.

Mr. Hughes, son of the late Houston Hughes and Hettie Snell Hughes, was a native and lifelong resident of the Asbury Community. In earlier years, he was employed for thirty-four years with B.F. Williams Construction Company as a road superintendent and was retired from the City of Ozark as the Public Works Director. He was an active member of Asbury Methodist Church, where he had previously served as song leader, Sunday school teacher, and Chairman of the Administrative Board.

Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Brother C. Sterling Hughes initiated an entered Apprentice on February 9, 1966. He was passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft on March 9, 1966, and was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on April 28, 1966, in Clinton Masonic Lodge #287 in Skipperville, Alabama. He later served his lodge in the various stations and places including Worshipful Master.

Most Worshipful Brother Hughes joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Dothan in 1970. He was invested with the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in 1985 and coronated a 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary in 1989. He served the Scottish Rite as Director of Work, Head of all bodies and personal representative of Karl Reed in Alabama.

After joining the York Rite Bodies of Dothan in 1994, he served as the Illustrious Master, Commander and High Priest of the local bodies. He later served as the Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Alabama, the Most Illustrious Grand Master of Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Alabama and the Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights of Templar of Alabama.

He was also a member of the Allied Masonic Degrees where he served as the Sovereign Master; the Red Cross of Constantine where he served as the Grand Governor, The York Rite College, where he was honored to receive the Purple Cross; The S.R.I.C.F., The Grotto, The Shrine The Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest, The Knights of the York Cross Honor, The National Sojourners, The Royal Order of Scotland as well as the Order of the Eastern Star.

Most Worshipful Brother Sterling Hughes served the Grand Lodge of Alabama as Junior Grand Deacon in 1991-1992, Grand Marshall in 2005, 2002, and 2006-2007, Junior Grand Warden 2008-2009, Senior Grand Warden 2009-2010, Deputy Grand Master 2010-2011 and elected and installed the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in the State of Alabama on November 16, 2011.

Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by two sons, Rickey Hughes and David Hughes; sister, Lydia Grimes.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Shirley Triplett Hughes, Asbury; his children, Bryan Keith Hughes (Sherry), Skipperville, Cheryl Hand (Jeff Mounts), Wetumpka, Jamie Thornton (Cathy), Wetumpka, and Jerry Thornton (Jennifer), Marietta, Georgia; six grandchildren, Zackery Hughes, Chase Thornton (Paige), Chandler Benton (Jesse), Jackson Hand, Emma Thornton, and Joseph Thornton; six great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Zackery Hughes, Chase Thornton, Jesse Benton, Jackson Hand, Joseph Thornton, Heath Whatley, and Jack Hartzog.