Huey "Hugh" Joseph Mayronne

Hugh Mayronne of Black Mountain, NC, passed away on April 24, 2023. Mr. Mayronne was born in Harvey, LA on October 27, 1933. He was preceded in death by his parents George Jules Mayronne, Sr. and Agatha Fisher Mayronne, and his brothers George Jules Mayronne, Jr., and Oswald Harry Mayronne, Sr. He is survived by his beloved wife, Penny Williams Mayronne, and daughters Gale Naquin, Rhonda Mayronne, Monica Relle, Lorie Busch, sister Agatha Haydel, stepson Sean Tongate, and eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

In 1951 he graduated from New Orleans Academy, a private military school. Upon graduation, he attended UCLA and studied radio broadcasting. After UCLA he attended Tulane University in the College of Business Administration. He had a great love of music, and played the drums in a New Orleans band during his high school and college years. For many years he operated a record shop in the French Quarter, specializing in New Orleans style jazz.

While at school, Hugh was a member of the Air Force ROTC and served in the Army after college in the Signal Corps at Camp Gordon in Augusta, GA. While stationed in Germany in the Signal Battalion, he was a broadcaster on Radio Free Europe. After being honorably discharged from the Army he returned to New Orleans.

He immediately became involved in the real estate field. Hugh developed and sold rental property and developed commercial, industrial, and residential properties, as well as managing his family's oil and gas producing properties.

Hugh was a man of many talents and interests. He was a licensed building contractor in Louisiana and Mississippi. He served as president of the Pearl River County, MS Home Builders Association and he initiated the first Home Builders Show & Parade of Homes. He also held a Louisiana insurance license, an auctioneer's license and was certified as a notary public. He was an amateur magician, a collector of postcards and worldwide auto license plates.

He founded a collections and collateral recovery agency and later became the CEO of the American Recovery Association. ARA was an international association of business owners involved in recovery for banks and credit unions.

His ancestors immigrated from the Bordeaux region of France and lived in New Orleans since the 1790s. Hugh's interest in his heritage led him to become a certified genealogist.

Hugh and Penny moved to Black Mountain, NC in 2007. The couple designed and built their dream mountain home, with Hugh as the general contractor.

Hugh was very active in the Black Mtn. Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). He enjoyed Bible study and being a part of a church family. He could be found in the church kitchen on Thanksgiving Day preparing dinner for the community. As part of his community service, he would go with church members to the Swannanoa Women's Correctional Center and perform his magic tricks and tell a joke or two.

He will be remembered for his kindness toward all people. Hugh was happy to be able to share his blessings with the homeless and other less fortunate folks. He loved putting a smile on people's faces and making them laugh.

A memorial service honoring Hugh will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 2:00 p.m. at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church Preschool Ministry, Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry in Black Mountain, NC, or the Asheville Humane Society.

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