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“Learn to be
content in Him.
No externals
are needed.”
Through a series of God’s
sovereign appointments, Jim got
confirmation that orthopedic
surgery would be his life’s calling.
He became intrigued with a
new concept, internal fixation of
fractures, and traveled to Switzerland
with his family to study for a
year with the medical personnel
that formulated the new method
for stabilizing broken bones. That
was the beginning of a career of
surgery and teaching that would
carry him to faraway places.
In 1976, he was invited to visit
Methodist Rehab which brought
all the Hughes to Mississippi and
would become their lifetime home.
Through additional paths opened
by God, Jim became the chairman
of orthopedics at University
Hospital.
His winsome personality is still
a part of his makeup. That, along
with his renown record in the field
of orthopedics, has taken him
throughout the world to teach on
internal fixation of fractures.
He retired from that position
in 2012 but continues to serve in
advisory and research capacities
on several medically related boards.
Hughes still affirms, “Orthopedics
is filled with joy - the healing of
broken bones.”
Throughout their travels,
they’ve made friends from around
the world. There were those under
Dr. Hughes’ teaching who were
always welcomed in their home as
well as his patients. Virginia said,
“When we would fly out of
Atlanta, it felt like going through
a receiving line with all the
greetings they received from
former patients and old friends.
Anyone in the Hughes’
presence soon senses the warmth
of Jesus’ love that’s made an evident
and lasting imprint on their lives,
conversations, and countenances.
Virginia believes Roman’s 8:28 is a
wonderful verse for newlyweds to
believe and adopt, but to be careful
to follow it up with verse 29.
Jim also offered godly advice:
Know this – 1) Contentment is
divine. 2) It is intrinsic. 3) It is
habitual. “Learn to be content in
Him. No externals are needed,” he
affirms from experience and from
1 Timothy 6:6.
Their gift of hospitality is still a
fundamental part of their lives as
they open their home to friends
and international guests who are
stateside for surgeries and visits.
Since 90% of their guests are
Christians, the Hughes’ hospitality
allows them and their guests to
refresh each other.
Their three married daughters,
Wendy Glover, Kathryn Long,
and Ann Le Roux live in the area
and have blessed their parents
with thirteen grandchildren and
one great grandson.
One might agree that Dr. Jim
Hughes, with the dedicated
support of his wife, has spent a
major portion of his life putting
broken bones back together.
More importantly, in the midst of
their contentment, they continue
to faithfully acknowledge and
share about the One who puts
broken lives back together.
Hometown RANKIN • 13