We give thanks for the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Jessica Hughes, SAMS Missionary, who died at home on December 8th. Jessica celebrated her 55th birthday on December 3rd with greetings from friends all around the world.
Jessica served faithfully with your Society since 2011, primarily as a lecturer focusing on field ministry preparation at Uganda Christian University (UCU) at the Bishop Tucker School of Divinity and Theology. She also helped UCU navigate massive challenges during the Covid pandemic by serving as the eLearning Manager. The seeds she planted in her ministry roles continue to bear fruit in East Africa and beyond for the Kingdom of God. Her fellow missionaries, students, and colleagues loved her dearly.
She persevered in the faith and earnestly sought to follow the Lord’s will throughout her life. By God’s grace, she graduated from the Selah program (spiritual direction certification) in September!
Jessica’s sending church, All Saints, Woodbridge, VA, has walked with her beautifully through the two years that she has been on this difficult journey–supported especially by the “Wonder Women” and held in the arms of Jesus. Jessica’s funeral will be at All Saints at a date in early January to be determined.
Jessica shared in her November letter this prayer: “Of all good things I have known in this life, Jesus, it is you alone I might keep into death, and it is you alone that I need.” ~Every Moment Holy, Volume II
Last month Jessica and I shared a sweet time together in prayer and remembering God’s goodness. I carried love and greetings from us all. Her love for you all was deep. We celebrated together the feast day of Hilda of Whitby—another faithful missionary who was gifted by God with wisdom. She, too, suffered in her last years. Hilda’s dying witness left a powerful mark on contemporary Venerable Bede as he recorded that she “passed from death to life.” Jessica kept in her vision the sure hope of passing into life everlasting in Jesus.
Please pray with me:
- O Lord, may you grant comfort and strength for Jessica’s extended family, her Wonder Women, her church family, her UCU family, her SAMS family, and all who love Jessica.
- May you continue your healing touch on Jessica’s godson Nick.
- “Let us learn to love one another well in our common grief, O Lord. Let us learn to speak freely together of our great loss, and our still-greater hope.” ~Every Moment Holy, Volume II
- “Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world;
In the Name of God the Father Almighty who created you;
In the Name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you;
In the Name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you.
May your rest be this day in peace,
and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God.”
In the love of Jesus with thanksgiving for you,
Stewart Wicker
A Memorial Service for Jessica will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 10 a.m. The service and reception will take place at All Saint’s Church 14851 Gideon Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192
