Gaude Lynn Hughes

Gaude Lynn Hughes, 45, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on July 1, 2025, at the Baymont Inn Hotel in Columbia, South Carolina.

She was born on February 2, 1980, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Lynnford Darnell Hughes Sr. and Gaude (Castro) Hughes.

“G,” as she was affectionately known, lived one word: Family. From the moment you met her, you felt her passion and fierce loyalty to those she loved. She would give you the shirt off her back and the last dollar in her pocket without a second thought—then keep it moving. Her generosity was matched only by her loyalty and her unapologetic honesty. G never minced words or aimed to please—she told the truth because you deserved it. You always knew where you stood with her, right or wrong. She was true to her own north star, and that candid love was her gift to you.

She loved hard, in her own unforgettable way. Impatient with planning but fearless in action, she embraced the unexpected and lived fully in every moment. Free-spirited and determined, she found joy in life’s simple pleasures: a spontaneous road trip, discovering new flavors and experiences, or simply gathering around with family and “chopping it up.” When life backed you into a corner, you didn’t need a plan B—G was your phone call. Her unwavering support and fierce devotion were lifelines to those lucky enough to receive them.

Those who knew her best will remember her unfiltered truth and adventurous spirit that made every moment matter. Though she may be gone, her fire lives on in every shared meal, every honest conversation, and every memory she helped create.

Gaude is survived by her mother, Gaude Hughes; her children, Khaliyah Hughes and Kayden Tyson; her sisters, Lena Hughes, Lonnisha Hughes, Brealynn Dickerson, Whitney Spears, Lynnessa Hughes, and Meoshi Hughes; her brother, Lynnford Hughes Jr.; and two grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lynnford D. Hughes Sr.