Phillip Hughes

Phillip Gerald Hughes, 56, of Asheboro, passed away Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist – High Point Medical Center.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at Central Church, Asheboro. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.

Phillip was born on April 17, 1967, in Enterprise, AL. Phillip began his music career at the age of eighteen out of the Mobile, AL area. He is the perfect example of a “quartet man” singing tenor in the early years and later taking on the lead part in the four-part harmony. During his thirty-eight-year career in gospel music, he traveled to 49 of the 50 states in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas. He was a member of many Southern Gospel Quartets – Victory Side, Harmony Creek, Anchormen, Melody Masters, Harvesters and Kingsmen. He was singing with Real Truth Revival at the time of his passing. Many fans have commented about Phillip’s distinct voice, saying no matter which part he sang, you could always pick out his voice. Some of the best times of his life were spent ministering through music and talking with gospel music fans – not to mention all the miles on the bus with his fellow singers whom he lovingly referred to as his “brothers.”

During his tenure with Victory Side in the 1990s, he met his future wife of over thirty years. Phillip and Starla married on June 5, 1993.

Phillip was extremely proud of his two sons, Ross and Ryan. He would often share that he had one son in the military and one son in the ministry. Ross, 25, serves our country in the United States Navy and is currently stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Ryan, 21, resides in Seneca, SC, and serves as the youth minister at ONE Church.

During his tenure with the Kingsmen, Phillip decided to leave full-time gospel music to be able to spend more time with his family. He was especially eager to spend time watching Ross play football and wrestle in middle school and high school. Later he was blessed to be able to coach Ryan during his time playing football at Southwestern Randolph Middle School and High School. During this time, he not only coached at those schools but also spent time in the classroom as a substitute teacher. He was proud to be able to mentor to many of the football players and other students at the school. He was honored to be called, “Coach Hughes.”

Phillip was preceded in death by his mother, Jackie Bradley Hughes, and grandparents Edgar and Sara Hughes and Eugene and Doris Bradley, of Enterprise, AL.

Phillip is survived by his wife, Starla Cox Hughes; sons, Ross Hughes currently serving the United States Navy; Ryan Hughes and fiancé Cara Martin of Seneca, SC; Father Gerald Hughes of Asheboro; Father-in-law and mother-in-law, Calvin and Darlene Cox of Seagrove; and beloved aunts, uncles and cousins in Alabama.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at Ridge Funeral Home. They will also receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. at Central Church, Wednesday, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ground 40 Farm, at https:\\www.ground40.com or to Southwestern Touchdown Club at 1641 Hopewell Friends Road, Asheboro, NC 27205.