Joseph Elmer Hughes, age 73, of Copperhill, TN, passed away Saturday, August 11, 2012. Mr. Hughes was a native of the Copper Basin area and was a son of the late Benjamin and Alice Mae Payne Hughes. He was a truck driver with Eastern Cartage Trucking Company.He is survived by his wife, Loucrecia Evans Hughes of the home; children, Bryan Hughes of Copperhill, TN, Hank Hayes of Murphy, NC, Melanie Hamby of Benton, TN, Shana Hughes of Copperhill, TN, Dana Forbes of Blue Ridge, GA, Angie Hughes of Copperhill, TN, JuKara Hughes of Copperhill, TN, Karen Morgan of Cleveland, TN; brother, Bud Hughes of Chatsworth, GA; sister, Magalean Eller of Jasper, GA; twenty two grandchildren; a large number of great-grandchildren also survive.Graveside services will be conducted from the family cemetery Tuesday, August 14th, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Ronnie Miller and Rev. Johnny Fortner officiating. Pallbearers include William Rhodes, Bill Carter, Jerry Roper, Hank Hayes, Bill Coleman, Terry Treadway, Austin Rhodes and Mike Forbes. Grandchildren will serve as an honorary escort. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday, August 14th from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Mr. Hughes may be made to the funeral home to help with final expenses. Condolences to the family may be made to www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill in charge of the arrangements. .