Atlanta humanitarian Mary Hughes, known to many as Mother Hughes, died Thursday, her son told Channel 2 Action News.

Hughes was 102 years old.

She was well-known in the Atlanta community for her generosity. She spent more than 70 years giving away clothes and shoes to local homeless shelters. Each year on her birthday she would give away a box for every year she lived.

She gave 100 boxes out in 2013.

Her son said she died at home.

About the Author

Keep Reading

The shooting happened at a townhouse community on Celeste Lane, just outside I-285.

Credit: Atlanta Police Department

Featured

Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com