John Hugghins

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 27, 2009

John Thomas Hugghins, 79, of Panama City, Fla., passed away Sun., May 24, 2009, at his home in Bay Point, with his wife and four children by his side.
Thomas was born on Nov. 8, 1929, in Covington County, to Homer Shaver Hugghins and Allie Mae Sullivan Hugghins. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served for five years in the hospital corps. Following his military service, he enrolled and graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. While at Auburn, he married the love of his life, Anne Grantham, on Aug. 30, 1952. Thomas then attended the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham, graduating in 1959. Upon graduation, Thomas and Anne moved to Opp, where he established his dental practice. He practiced dentistry in Opp for 37 years, retiring in 1995. While there, he became an active member of the community, serving on the school board, the board of directors of Colonial Bank, and as a junior deacon in the First Baptist Church. He was also an active member of the Lion’s Club and served as a leader of the local Boy Scouts.
In 1996, Thomas and Anne moved to Bay Point in Panama City, where they again became active members of the community. Thomas was a dedicated member of the Woodlawn Baptist Church. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, enjoying time with his sons, grandsons and friends on their farm in Red Level.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anne Hugghins. Other survivors include two daughters, Pam Hugghins of Orange Beach, Ala., and Cindy (Phillip) Huggins of Birmingham; two sons, John (Mona) Hugghins of Ponte Vedre, Fla. and Stephen (Michele) Hugghins of Tuscaloosa; nine grandchildren, Lindsay (Jay) Taylor of Gulf Shores, Ala., Jonathan Bullard of Elba, Ala., Haley Huggins (Clay Spitler) and Jay Huggins of Birmingham, Ala., Leanne Hugghins of Atlanta, Thomas Hugghins and Karlin Hugghins of Ponte Vedre, Fla., Holly Hugghins and Conner Hugghins of Tuscaloosa; and one great-granddaughter, Caroline Taylor, of Gulf Shores. He is also survived by a brother, Harry C. Hugghins of Red Level; and a sister, Eleanor Jean Johnson of Opelika. Thomas is preceded in death by three brothers, Marlin, Allison and McRhee Hugghins.
Funeral services will be held today at 3 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of Opp, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the New Home Primitive Baptist Church cemetery in Red Level with the Rev. Allen Newton officiating and Wyatt Funeral Home directing.
Those desiring may make contributions to Covenant Hospice, the American Cancer Society or Woodlawn United Methodist Church in his memory.