Rev. Lynne Hough lived a life of service at Long Beach church

GULFPORT -- The Rev. Patrick Sanders of St. Peter's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Gulfport is one of many members of the Episcopal community who sought spiritual guidance from the Rev. Lynne Hough.

"She was a soul for the Gospel and she had the courage to live it," Sanders said when reflecting on Hough and her legacy. "She was an absolute inspiration and influence on my life and ministry."

Hough died Tuesday at age 77.

She served as rector at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Long Beach for 20 years, and was deacon there when she died. She also was a chaplain at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, and the senior deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi.

Funeral is 1 p.m. Monday at St. Patrick's.

Scott Williams, a deacon at St. Peter's, said he had known Hough for about 10 years. He said he will always remember her for her compassion.

"She was very gracious person," he said. "She truly had the heart of a servant and she was very giving and she always had time for others."

In her role as senior deacon, Williams said, one of Hough's primary obligations was to help those who were led to become deacons in their respective parishes.

"She was the chair for the deacon discernment committee," he said. "After someone decides they want to become a deacon, you have to go before this committee and they discuss whether there is really a call for you to be ordained."

Williams said Hough was his mentor while he was going through his ordination as deacon. He said one of his favorite memories of Hough showed her commitment to following the rules of the process.

"I asked her once if I could read the Gospel," he said. "She said, 'No. You are not ordained.' But she said it in a way that made me feel good about it -- she was very stern but full of love."

Hough is survived by her son, John Hough, and his wife, Annette, of Clinton, Tenn., and grandson Ryan Hough of Gautier.

This story was originally published December 27, 2015 at 9:05 PM with the headline "Rev. Lynne Hough lived a life of service at Long Beach church ."