Reverend Dr. William Hugh Cauthen

The Reverend Dr. William Hugh Cauthen passed away peacefully onto his next life on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.  Hugh was born to parents Willie Berry and Annie Ethel Cauthen on November 30, 1929.  He was 92 years old.  Hugh was preceded in death by his loving parents, two brothers and four sisters.

Hugh grew up in Griffin, Georgia.  He graduated from Griffin High School as a decorated athlete.  Hugh turned down football scholarship offers to volunteer with the U.S. Navy for which he proudly served two years primarily stationed in Tokyo, Japan.  Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, Hugh earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University.  He also received his Master of Divinity and the degree he was most proud of, his Doctorate of Ministry from the Candler School of Theology of Emory University.  Hugh also studied specialized Engineering Courses at The Georgia Institute of Technology.

Hugh began his work life as a Manufacturing Engineer at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, a position he held for eight years.  While at Lockheed, Hugh got his call to ministry, a career that would span more than four decades. 

Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors and teachers, so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. (Ephesians 4:11)

A good and faithful servant of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Hugh served as a Senior Minister in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.  The churches he led were Grove Park Methodist (Atlanta), Tillman Methodist (Smyrna), Faith Methodist (Smyrna), Riverdale First United Methodist Church, Hartwell First UMC, Carrollton First UMC, Northwoods UMC (Doraville), Mt. Zion First UMC (Marietta), Dunwoody First UMC, Grace UMC (Atlanta), Cumming First UMC, Gainesville First UMC and Hopewell UMC (Gainesville).  He served as Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Georgia United Methodist Church for seven years.  He chaired the Committee on Finance for the State of Georgia United Methodist Pastor’s School for eight years.  Hugh served on the Gainesville District Committee of Ordained Ministry for four years.  He graciously served as Minister of Congregational Care at Gainesville First UMC.  Hugh participated with the staff of the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in the care of hospitalized persons.  He also chaired the Five County Northeast Georgia Medical Center for three years.  Hugh was the Director of the Forsyth County Pastoral Care Center at Baptist North Hospital in Cumming, Georgia.  He won the prestigious National Denman Award for Evangelism two consecutive years.  He led numerous travel excursions with Educational Opportunities Tours, a Christian travel ministry.  Hugh went on ten Holy Land pilgrimages as well as tour destinations to Italy, Germany and Egypt to name a few.  Hugh was tasked to lead numerous stewardship campaigns to build or renovate church campuses throughout his ministry.  Hugh led the building of Faith Methodist Church, built a Sunday School wing at Riverdale UMC, fully renovated sanctuaries at Hartwell, Carrollton and Dunwoody, built a Sunday School and gymnasium facility at Mt. Zion and laid the groundwork for the construction of the sanctuary at Cumming First UMC.  Hugh enthusiastically embraced any challenges presented to him at all the churches he served throughout his distinguished career.  He sincerely cared for all people, especially the sick, terminally ill or aging.  His amazing ability to encourage, comfort and support anyone who faced any of life’s challenges will be surely missed by those he touched.

Hugh was the patriarch of a large, loving Christian family.  He is survived by his beautiful caring wife of 44 years, Betty Sue Cauthen, daughters Donna Breedlove, Beth LaCava and Rhonda Gazaway (Wayne), and sons Tim Cauthen (Joye), Phil Cauthen (Mary Anne) and Jeff Jacobs (Shemayne).  Hugh was also blessed with eleven wonderful grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.  Hugh cherished his relationships with his marvelous friends and loved all he met.  William Hugh Cauthen was a great man, a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and a loving, caring minister to so many.

A memorial service celebrating Hugh’s magnificent life will be held at Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia at 3:00 PM on Sunday, November 27, 2022.  The Reverend Dr. Charley Reeb, Senior Pastor of Johns Creek United Methodist Church will be officiating.  A reception for his friends will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Hugh’s honor to Gainesville First United Methodist Church https://www.gfumc.com where Hugh proudly served for more than a decade or to Johns Creek United Methodist Church https://www.johnscreekumc.org where Hugh was a member.

Memorial Park Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Georgia 30501. For online condolences www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com