Elizabeth Dickens Newton Hughes

Elizabeth \"Libba\" Dickens Newton Hughes, 94, of Lynchburg, died on Sunday, April 11, 2010.  She was twice married, first to the late Orson Benjamin Newton, Jr. and second to the late George Taylor Hughes.

Libba was born on October 23, 1915 in Lynchburg, a daughter of the late Dr. Clem Luck Dickens and the late Vera Taylor Dickens.  After her mother died, when she was two years old, her aunt, India Taylor Shumate helped Dr. Dickens raise Libba and her sister, Vera.

Libba was a lifetime member of Court Street United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School well into her eighties.  Libba had worked at Luther LeGrand Florist, had been assistant manager at The Columns and retired as an instructor at Phillip Business College.  After her retirement, Libba was a volunteer at Bedford Hills Elementary School, where her grandchildren attended, and the Free Clinic of Central Virginia, where she was the recipient of the first Annual Libba Hughes Volunteer Award which was named in her honor.

Libba is survived by her son, Sherwood Newton and his wife, Elaine; her daughter, Jane N. Stallings and her husband, Rich; her step-daughter, Pinky Hughes Houck and her husband Leighton all of Lynchburg; her sisters, Vera Dickens Sackett of Lynchburg, Lucky Dickens Oliver and her husband, David of Roanoke and Laurie Dickens Cecil and her husband, Mike of Virginia Beach; her daugher-in-law Bonnye C. Newton; eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husbands, she was predeceased by her son, O. B. \"Ben\" Newton, III and her sister, Lloyd Dickens Burton (Sister Scholastica Marie Burton, OJN.)

The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. today, April 13, 2010 at Tharp Funeral Home Lynchburg.  A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at Court Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. C. Douglas Pillow officiating.  Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Court Street United Methodist Church, 621 Court Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504 , the Free Clinic of Central Virginia, 1016 Main Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504 or the Hospice of the Hills, 3300 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, VA

The family would like to thank the staffs of the Williams Home, 6th Floor Drinkard Health Care at Westminster-Canterbury, the sitters at Elite Care, Hospice of the Hills and Janice Privette, Robin May and Tammy Combs of the Privette Home for their unceasing devotion to Libba.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.