A line wrapped outside the viewing room of Swanson Funeral Home on East Grand Blvd, Tuesday.
Friends, family, former school colleagues and students paid their respects to Mrs. Sunbeam Hughes, the last principal of the now-closed St. Martin dePorres High School, a historic Black Catholic school in Detroit.
Hughes began as the school’s secretary in 1967, when the building was located at the corner of 12th and Webb, which placed it at the epicenter of Detroit’s turbulent unrest during those times.
She was there when the “radical” school, then led by Joe Dulin, refused to let the Archdiocese of Detroit close the school, helping to organize a weeks-long, 24-hour protest outside the posh Washington Blvd. headquarters of church leadership.
She was there helping to organize the massive, city-wide months-long “can drive” that saw hundreds of students and parents posted around the city raising funds to keep the school open.
“I was a sophomore student, so I’ve been knowing Mrs. Hughes for a long time,” said Elizabeth Lowe Williams, a 1970 graduate of the original school building where she attended while Hughes was secretary. Williams among a number of people who came to wish Hughes a final goodbye while reminiscing with former classmates and staff who knew the highly regarded principal well.
“Mrs. Hughes was stern and fair. I remember one day at the last building the school was housed in and I was volunteering at the school and some real big young men were coming down the hall, I knew they were athletes, and were suppose to be in class and Mrs. Hughes stepped up to them just as if she was six-foot eight. She told them they needed to be in class, ‘I said, Mrs. Hughes, you can’t be stepping up to those big men like that,’ and she said ‘if they’re not doing right, I can.”
Williams believes that moment she recalls all so many years ago, was a testament to just the confidence Mrs. Hughes embodies but more-so to the respect the students at the school had for her in administrative leadership.
Hughes was present during the transition as students saw Mr. Dulin removed as principal, whom most thought for being too radical. She provided the stability and comfort so needed during those days.
“She was a mother to the school and cared about everybody,” said Charles Edge, a former staffer whom Hughes hired in 1985. She kept me there for 20 years, I know that! When it was time for students to be disciplined, she had me do it. She also allowed me to coach the freshman team and the girls softball team. She made sure everyone was dressed right and made sure we were all a family.”
As principal, she saw the school become a powerhouse for sports with a string of record titles. St. Martin de Porres held the MHSAA state record for the most state titles in boys track with fifteen as of 2015. The Eagles had the most football state titles than any Catholic High School League with twelve titles as of 2015. St. Martin de Porres also took the prize for winning seven state championships in boys basketball, won three girls track state championships and, the girls also won two basketball state championships.
The excelling institution in both academics and sports earning a visit from then late Mayor Coleman A. Young.
For some of the parents who had children attend the school under Hughes’ leadership, attending her memorial service brought back emotional memories.
“When our two sons attended de Porress, we always volunteered,” said Roosevelt Baugh, recounting the days of his involvement during the days his sons attended and graduated under Hughes leadership in 2003 and 2005.
“I was always working security around the basketball games and the football games and one of the things we always noticed is that when Mrs. Hughes pulled up, she would always be selling de Porress paraphernalia. She’d sell blankets, hats, whatever she could to keep the school going.”
“I always appreciated how she created a family atmosphere at the school, so she welcomed parents in as volunteers so we could help develop the community she was trying to build.”
From the turnout of Hughes’ memorial service, a community she built indeed.
Hughes’ home-going service was held Wednesday as she leaves to cherish a husband and a host other family and friends.
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