The Son-Shine Outreach Center in Madisonville ha s always accepted and provided essential items for members of the community. For over four years, that has included numerous used dolls brought back to life through the services of former employee and current board member Mama Hughes.

“She is our doll lady,” said Son-Shine Center Coordinator Lisa Wamsley. “She picks up the abused or unloved dolls that get donated here and she loves them back to life.”

Hughes began working on the dolls shortly after her husband, Mickey Hughes, suddenly passed away after 42 years of marriage. “It was a time

“It was a very rough time and, honestly, dolls were the answer to a prayer,” said Hughes. “I was looking at my collection one day and feeling lonesome, shattered and heartbroken, and thinking and praying there would be a way I could share my love of dolls with people.”

Dolls have always been an essential part of Hughes’ life. After her children grew up and left home it became a full-blown hobby. Her diverse collection of dolls grew and suddenly began to litter her entire house.

Her prayers were answered when the SonShine Center found themselves in need of someone new the numerous donated dolls. Hughes, the perfect candidate for such a task, pounced on the opportunity.

“(Wamsley) sent dolls home with me right away,” said Hughes. “People in this community are incredibly generous. A lot of the dolls just need their hair combed, or a pair of shoes, but sometimes they come in really soiled, their hair is all matted up and maybe they don’t have any clothes.”

Ever since, the restoration was full-steam ahead. In 2018 and 2019, Hughes helped restore over 800 dolls each year.

“The first year and a half, I didn’t keep track of how many,” said Hughes. “Then I started counting just out of curiosity. It had kind of been my goal to get to over a thousand (in one year).”

She reached that goal in 2020 with an estimated 1,050 restored dolls that were then returned back to the Son-Shine Center for sale. The uptick in donated dolls was likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and more locals cleaning out their closets. On top of that, the isolation provided Hughes with more opportunities to do her work.

“I had more time this year to work on the dolls,” said Hughes. “It is something I enjoy doing and I enjoy sharing with other people. It also helps the Son-Shine Center, which I believe in with all my heart.”

Her eight-year-old granddaughter, Jacey Stevens, has assisted her throughout the restoration process.

“(Stevens) has had so much fun helping me,” said Hughes. “We sort of triage the dolls once we get them in, we put them in piles of which need to be washed, which just need their hair combed and which need more extensive work. (Stevens) also helps me dress the dolls.”

After restoring upwards of 3,000 dolls since getting started, Hughes becomes more and more amazed by the amount donated by a small town in such a short amount of time.

“(Restoring) a thousand dolls is not on me, it speaks to how generous this community is,” said Hughes. “When you look at our population and you think that over a thousand dolls were given to the Son-Shine Center in one year, that is a lot of dolls. Some of them are unfixable and actually have to be disposed of. So when you think about how many dolls have actually been donated, it is incredible.”

Hughes picks up donated dolls by the bin at the Son-Shine Center, and typically retrieves two bins for every one she returns. Upon completion, she puts the dolls into plastic bags for the center to sell.