Hester B. Randle McDaniel transitioned to eternal rest Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2007. She embraced many roles in her lifetime: sister, teacher, wife, visionary leader, and was a unique and lovely lady.
Funeral: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007, at First Presbyterian Church, 1000 Penn St., with the Rev. William Bly officiating, the Rev. Albert E. Chew eulogist. Interment: 2 p.m. Wednesday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation: 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at historic Baker Funeral Home.
Memorial service: AKA at 6 p.m., Links at 7 p.m. and Fort Worth Assembly at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Hester was born July 13, 1927, in Fort Worth to Hester and Nettie Randle, the third of their seven children. She was baptized at Mount Zion Baptist Church as a young child.
A graduate of historic I.M. Terrell High School, she studied at West Virginia State College in Bluefield and earned B.A. and master degrees in elementary education from Prairie View A&M College, now Prairie View A&M University.
She met a dashing young Tuskegee airman, Robert Tennerson McDaniel, while attending Prairie View. They shared 55 years of marital blessings, supporting and nurturing one another in their public and private lives.
Hester began teaching in Ferris. Her 36-year career in the Fort Worth public schools included work at Ninth Ward, Kirkpatrick, Forest Hills, James E. Guinn, A.M. Pate, George Washington Carver and Van Zandt-Guinn elementary schools.
A strong advocate for youngsters, "Mrs. Hester," as she was lovingly called, set high goals for each of her students and instilled in them the belief that their dreams were within reach.
Mrs. McDaniel was president of the Fort Worth Assembly from 1991-97 and is credited with leading that organization into a new era of debutante presentations.
Her attention to detail was legendary. She exercised a gift for personal involvement with every aspect of the lengthy processes of selecting debutantes, grooming escorts, implementing parental workshops and executing the premier African-American debutante ball of each year while constantly encouraging every participant to strive for their personal best.
She was an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Beta Mu Omega Chapter, chair of the Ebony Fashion Fair for the Fort Worth chapter of Links, Inc. and a member of St. Peter's Presbyterian Church. She was affiliated with the Retired Teachers Association, Claude Platte Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen and Emanuel L. Young American Legion Auxiliary, Post 838.
"Mrs. Hester" provided visionary leadership, outstanding administrative abilities, a charming personality and the ability to work with persons from every walk of life. Her contributions in the social, civic and educational arena will be long remembered by the community which benefited from her energy, enthusiasm and drive.
Mrs. McDaniel lived with a vibrant passion for excellence, a distinctive flair for beauty, grace and charm in her interactions with others.
The family of Hester Randle McDaniel wishes to thank the staff of Harris Methodist Hospital Continued Care-Fourth Floor for excellent health care and timely attention given to Mrs. Hester during her illness.
Survivors: She is cherished in memory by her loving husband, Robert T. McDaniel; sisters, Ruby Maye White of Los Angeles, Calif., Effie Hammond of Fort Worth and Mary Jo Evans of Dallas; nephews, Clyde Randle Jr., Johnny Kirk Hammond, George Gary Hammond of Fort Worth; nieces, Karen Randle of Oakland, Calif., and Dr. Philippa Maria Evans of Milwaukee, Wis.
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