Clare Meredith Hughes

Clare Meredith Hughes, 83, of Cooks Point, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed away at her home on Monday June 8, 2009. She was born in Cambridge on June 13, 1925, and was a daughter of the late Clarence C. and Jennie Watson Jones Meredith.

Clare attended schools in Cambridge, having graduated from Cambridge High School as Valedictorian in 1942. She had also attended Chesapeake College where she took Real Estate Brokerage courses as well as other courses. Some years ago Clare had worked as a bookkeeper at J.E. Andrews & Co., Herbert Hearn Hardware Wholesale Division as well as Dorset Marine. She later worked as a supervisor at the American Yearbook Co as well as Connelly Containers. Clare later worked as a Realtor Associate with Tidewater Properties and later worked as a Real Estate Broker and owner of Clare Hughes Real Estate. Clare was the first woman in Cambridge and one of the first women on the Eastern Shore to establish her own Real Estate Brokerage, operating her own business from 1982 until she retired several years ago. Clare was a member of Antioch United Methodist Church, where she had taught Sunday School, and had also been pianist for 14 years, served as secretary and had served on the administrative council and corresponding secretary, had been a Girl Scout leader and was an Area Council Member. She was also a member of the Dorchester Co. Historical Society, where she had served as a trustee for three years and a docent for many years and had also been active in the Dorchester Heritage Museum for many years. Clare had also served as President of the Cambridge High School Chapter of AFS in 1976 and 1977, Dorchester Chamber of Commerce where she had served on the Board of Directors for three years, Dorchester Co. Dept. of Social Services Board for 12 years, serving six years as President, Mid Shore Council on Church, Youth and Family for 2 years, one year as President, Dorchester Co. Board of Realtors where she had served as President twice and the Cambridge Rotary Club, where she had served on the Board of Directors and several committees. Clare was first married to Robert King Baldwin of Spencerville, Ohio in 1946. She was later married to Paul R. Hughes on June 19, 1965. She had been in failing health for the past month when she passed away at her home on Monday evening.

Survivors include her husband Paul R. Hughes of Cooks Point, one daughter Anne Baldwin Thomas and her husband David Chase Thomas, Jr. of Town Point, one son Rick Hughes and his wife Peg Hughes of Sarasota, Florida. She is also survived by two grandchildren Shannon Chase Vanderberg and her husband Ryan E. Vanderberg and Jena Meredith Thomas, three great grandchildren Madeline Clare Vanderburg, Elizabeth Anne Vanderberg and Colin Chase Vanderberg, two special nieces Susan M. Meredith and Bobbie K. Robinson and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a grandson Ryan Chase Thomas and a brother John C. Meredith.

A funeral service will be held on Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM at the Antioch United Methodist Church with the Rev. Pam Bockart, the Rev. Mary Ann Farnell and the Rev. David Stewart officiating. Interment will follow in the adjoining churchyard. The family will receive friends during the hour preceding the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Antioch United Methodist Church, c/o Susan M. Meredith, 5413 Town Point Road, Cambridge, MD 21613, or to the Coastal Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802. Pallbearers will be Harry Hyser, Tommy Robbins, Dukie Benjamin, John Rue, Mark Hughes and Bobby Hughes. Honorary bearers will be Terry L. Brannock, Donald Cox, Bob Sellers, Carlton Shorter, Bill Baker and Fred Pomeroy. Arrangements are being handled by the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.