Services were Monday for lifelong educator and Murphy town leader
Bill Hughes
MURPHY – Lifelong educator and community leader William “Bill” Hughes, 87, of Murphy, died July 2, 2026.
Funeral services were held Monday in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, with the Rev. Evan Hill officiating. Interment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.
Hughes was a native and lifetime resident of Murphy who attended Western Carolina College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1960.
He married Barbara Jones Hughes, on June 11, 1960. In the fall of 1960, he took his first teaching position at White Church School, where he also coached 8th grade girls basketball.
In 1965, he was appointed as principal of Murphy Elementary School, where he worked for the next 32 years until retiring from the school system. While serving as principal, he earned a Master’s Degree in Education.
Hughes devoted 32 years to serving the Town of Murphy, including 12 years on the Murphy Town Council before being elected mayor in 1997. He went on to serve as mayor for 20 years, retiring at the end of 2017.
His legacy remains visible through Bill Hughes Avenue, named in his honor in 2021.
"His lifetime of leadership, service, and love for our community continues to be felt throughout Murphy," Murphy Mayor Tim Radford said.
"On behalf of the Town of Murphy, we extend our deepest condolences to Barbara Hughes and the entire Hughes family. We are grateful for Bill’s many years of faithful service to our town, our schools, and our community. His legacy will continue to inspire generations to come," Radford said.
Radford directed that the flags at all Town of Murphy municipal buildings be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Monday, July 6, 2026, the day of his funeral.