Willard “Doc” Hughes

Willard “Doc” Hughes was born in Harlem. He was 79 when he died of the coronavirus on April 26, 2020. Within Fishkill Correctional Institution in New York, he was known for his generous leadership. He served as a facilitator with the facility’s Network Program, which provides peer-to-peer emotional counseling and reintegration services.

Network Support Services honored Doc for supporting hundreds of other members of his community, stating: “He was a longtime Network member, a much loved Group Leader who helped hundreds of men turn their lives around en route to release from prison.” Doc’s friend, Patrick Austin, wrote: “Doc was respected as well as liked by both staff and the incarcerated. He gave everybody respect, and he always went out of his way to help others.” 

Through decades of incarceration and multiple parole denials, Doc remained hopeful about a future outside the prison walls. Shortly before he passed, he connected with his niece. “He was looking forward to using everything that he learned during his incarceration when the day came that the parole board finally granted his request to be allowed to rejoin society,” Patrick said. “However, he will never have the opportunity to share his life experience with society. He will be truly missed. May he rest in peace.”  

This memorial was compiled by MOL team member Abby Steckel with submissions from Patrick Austin, and with information from the #HALTSolitary campaign and an obituary from Network Support Services.