We honor the memory and life of James Leon Hough, affectionately known as "Bookie" by close family and friends. He was born to his proud parents, the late Joe Hough and Ola Mae Hough on November 19, 1958 in Jefferson, South Carolina. He was the youngest of two children. Bookie spent his early educational years in South Carolina and graduated from Spingarn Senior High School in Washington, DC. After graduation, he continued his educational endeavors at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and graduated with an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences. He took a few accounting courses at Strayer University to fulfill his fondness for financial literacy. He was really good with numbers and later started his own tax preparation business. His clientele grew in numbers over the years.
Bookie started his Federal government career at the State Department in 1976 as a Summer Student Aid and later worked at the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 1989, he started at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), from where he retired in October 2022, with over 36 years of Federal service.
Bookie was a happy, go-lucky person who loved to joke around. He lived his life out LOUD! His family was everything to him. Bookie adored his mother and always made sure she was his number one priority. He treated his nieces and nephews as if they were his own. Bookie would always say that he didn’t need any children of his own because his brother, Jack, had enough for the both of them. He was always there, if and when, any of his family members needed him and even if you weren’t family. He might fuss you out and give you a hard time, but that was only him trying to act tough. He really had a soft spot for his family and would do anything for them within his power. Bookie was selfless and had a very loving heart. His door was always open if anyone ever needed a place to stay.
Bookie enjoyed listening to smooth jazz, but don’t let that fool you because his favorite rapper was Scarface. He enjoyed dancing, although he wasn’t as good as he wanted to be. He could never learn how to do the electric slide, but he mastered the two step.
One of his most favorite things to do, was to TRAVEL. He took many trips and cruises over the years with his mother and cousins as his traveling buddies. He recently fell in love with California, specifically, Los Angeles. He loved the warm weather, the beaches and the people. It didn’t take him too long to decide that is where he wanted to live after retirement. He started that new chapter of his life meeting new people and making new friends, but he never forgot his old friends back on the East Coast. He had a positive impact on all those he encountered and left a meaningful and lasting impression on them all. He embraced everyone and treated them like family. Everyone LOVED Bookie!
He loved with his whole heart his family and friends. He leaves to celebrate his life and cherish his loving memory, his Mother, Ola Mae Hough; Brother, Kenneth H. Hough; Nieces and Nephews, Valerie Hough Cromartie (Willie), Karen Hough, Kenneth D. Hough (Ayana), Kesha Jackson (Seven), Keiya Hough; Great-Nieces and Nephews, Kierra, Lamont, LeShawn, Seven, Naji, Tirea, Stephan, Ka’Von, Ka’Shawn, Kaiser, Na’Zyia, Kristopher, Kayla; Great-Great Nephew, Denim; Godson, Malcolm; Bonus Son, Havin; Bonus Daughter, Charmante’; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
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