Sarah Loutishia Hughes -- Manufacturing Plant Worker

 

Loutishia Hughes

Sarah Loutishia Hughes was born on June 10, 1919, in Trigg County, Kentucky.  She was the ninth of ten children of Luther Lee Hughes and Mattie Patterson Light Hughes.  Luther was a well known farmer in the Warrenton Community of Trigg County.  Her mother, Mattie, was the daughter of John J. Light and Emeline Catherine Thomas Light.  Loutishia’s siblings were Harmon Marcellius, born in 1903; Verna Elizabeth, born in 1904; Mary Catherine, born in 1906; Lula Gertrude, born in 1908; Luther Bertram, born in 1909; Edna Lorene, born in 1912; Richard Stanley, born in 1914; James Raymond, born in 1916 and Thomas Alton, born in 1921.  All nine of Loutishia’s siblings lived to adulthood and were married.  Loutisha was the only one to remain single.

Loutishia attended the Warrenton School in her neighborhood while growing up.  On July 9, 1947 she was one of the early individuals to be employed at a new blue jean manufacturing plant that had opened the previous month in Cadiz, Kentucky.  The plant, known as the Little River Garment Company opened with 20 employees. It was a subsidiary of Hopkinsville’s Elk Brand Manufacturing Company.  The Cadiz plant made overalls and blue jeans and was affectionately known over the years simply as “The Overall Factory.” The plant was in a concrete block building located on Lafayette Street.  It was a major employer for the citizens of Trigg County for many years.  A major expansion of the factory came in 1975 enabling as many as 260 people to work at Elk Brand. Other garment items were also produced there over time. 

During her early days at the plant, Loutishia was in charge of sewing pockets to bib overalls. Later she worked on the plant’s production line, sewing on blue jeans.   Over the years Loutishia’s job changed, as did the style of blue jeans.  However,  her  main  jobs stayed  the  same, putting  buttons  on  the  end  of pants,  making  belt  loops  and sewing on pockets.  Loutishia retired from the clothing plant in August 1984 after 37 years of employment.  Recalling her last days, Loutishia said, they were sad days because “it was time to say good­bye. One thing I’ll always cherish is how nice the employees treated me, especially the younger ones.”

The Elk Brand Manufacturing Company employees held a special retirement dinner for Loutishia on Tuesday, October 9, 1984.  The plant manager presented her with a silver tray as a token of appreciation from all the employees for her many years of working at the overall factory.

After her retirement, Loutishia took up the hobby of making quilts, a hobby which allowed her to still use her sewing skills.  Loutishia’s diligence was evident in that she had perfect attendance for 47 years in Sunday school at her church, the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Trigg County.

Loutishia outlived her four sisters and her five brothers, dying at the age of 84 on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 in Cadiz, Kentucky.  She was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County, Kentucky.

Loutishia Hughes

Tombstone of Loutishia Hughes

LINEAGE:  (Sarah Loutishia Hughes was the daughter of Luther Lee and Mattie Patterson Light Hughes and the granddaughter of John J. and Emeline Catherine Thomas Light.  Emeline was the seventh child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)