James Edward Hester

1930 - 2017

Rev. Dr. James "Jimmy" Hester of Arlington went to be with the Lord on Sunday morning, March 19, 2017, at age 86. Celebration of Life Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Grace Community Church, 801 W. Bardin Road, Arlington, Texas. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 24, at Greenwood Funeral Home, 1211 E. Division St., Arlington, Texas. Rev. Jimmy surrendered to preach at the ripe old age of 18 after graduating from Polytechnic High School in Fort. Worth. He later graduated from Hardin- Simmons University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He studied at the University of Perugia, Italy, and International Institute of Milano, Italy. He was pastor of Southern Baptist churches for 14 years prior to going to the foreign mission field. He served under regular appointment by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to the countries of Italy, and Libya, North Africa. Hester was also the coordinator of Crusade Evangelism for the Baptist General Convention of Texas during which he was the evangelist for the Red River Valley Crusade for Christ. In 1974 Jimmy was called to full-time pastorate at Arlington Christian Center where he served faithfully for nearly 20 years. At his retirement, he formed Jim Hester Missionary Ministries, where he served until his home going. He was preceded in death by his father, Winston Hester; his Mother, Cecil Walker Hester; brother, Winston "Dub" Hester Jr.; and granddaughter, Autumn Rawlinson. Survivors: He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jo Ann Hester; his daughters, Kimberly Ann Hester Anderson (husband, Randy), Suzanne Hester Rolston (husband, Bobby), Julianne Hester Durbin, Lea Anne Hester Prevost (husband, Neal), Holly Smith (husband, Tom) and Wendy Knaack (husband, Ted); his sister, Mary Ruth Sutton; nephew, Eddie Sutton (wife, Sally); niece, Becky Stewart; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.