Hufford, Shirley Dean

Shirley Dean Hufford, 79, of Pulaski, died Tuesday January 10, 2006 in Pulaski Community Hospital. Born July 11, 1926 in Pulaski, he was the son of the late Dulcenia Cox Hufford and Shirley Lockard Hufford. Also preceding him in death was one brother, The Rev. Robert Grayson Hufford.

Dean received training from International Accountants Society, Chicago, Ill., and was employed by Pulaski Veneer, Radio Corporation of America, and Mayberry Buick, Inc., all in Pulaski. He accepted employment in accounting at Kollmorgen Corporation, Inland Motor Division, Radford, on June 15, 1960 and retired on August 1, 1991.

Dean’s devotion to family and church brought many rewarding experiences, including Boy Scouts leadership roles, foster parenting children in crisis situations through Vol. Emergency Foster Care, and providing summer-time housing for 8 baseball players who were playing rookie year baseball for the Atlanta Braves in Pulaski in 1987 & 1988. Some who moved to higher levels of play are Steve Avery, Scott Grove, and Dale Polley.

Activities at First Christian Church where he was a 69 year member, have included Choir, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Youth Group Sponsor, Stewardship Chairman, member of several departments, Treasurer for twenty eight years, Chairman of the Official Church Board 3 times, Deacon, and presently, an Elder.

In 1947 Dean became a charter member of Pulaski’s Y’s Mens Club, a service group assisting in fund-raisers and building projects, as needed, to support the local YMCA programs. He served in various offices and was an International Director, representing the Southeastern Region of the U.S. He attended three international conventions. Several Y’s Men’s Club members from countries world-wide have been guests in the Hufford home. When the club disbanded in 1984, Dean was the only surviving charter member with continuous membership and service.

As did his ancestor, Matthias Hoffer, the weaver, Dean worked with fabric and thread to produce heirloom quality pieces of counted cross-stitched work, an art he learned in 1984 as rehabilitation therapy following an extensive illness. Since 1985, he has made more than four thousand Chrismons for children at church, and others across town and in several states. These gold and white ornaments feature monograms of Christ. They help children understand Christianity and have become a Christmas tradition for those who have received the gifts.

Since August 1990, he has been a Friday afternoon volunteer at the Wilderness Road Regional Museum. One of his commissioned pieces of counted cross-stitched work, depicting General Lee and General Grant with the flags of the Confederacy and the Union, hangs in the Museum.

He is survived by his wife Helen Gillespie Hufford, whom he married June 19, 1948 at the First Baptist Church in Webster Springs, W.Va.; one son, Thomas Dean Hufford and his wife, Nanette of Marietta, Ga.; one daughter, Helen Jane Herman and her husband, Rev. Glen Herman of Wellston, Ohio; three grandchildren, Bethany Joy Herman Archer and her husband, Lucas Lee Archer of Findlay, Ohio, Sarah Rebekah Herman and David Matthew Herman, both of Wellston, Ohio. Also survived by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday January 13, 2006 at the First Christian Church with the Rev. Randy Winn officiating. Entombment will follow in Highland Memory Gardens, Dublin, therefore the family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Christian Church 524 N. Jefferson Ave. Pulaski, Va. 24301.

Visiting will be Thursday evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at the First Christian Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.seaglefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Thomas M. Seagle & Sons, Pulaski.