Jane Hester Cecil

Jane Lyons Hester Cecil passed away peacefully from this earth on June 26, 2025, following an extended illness. She was surrounded by loving and cherished family and friends.

Jane was born on August 5, 1955 to Carl Wilson Hester and Kathleen Lyons Hester, of Fries, Virginia. She was always grateful to have been raised in this cozy town nestled on the idyllic New River. Jane attended Fries Schools and was a member of the Fries United Methodist Church. She later attended Emory and Henry College and received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Radford University.

Beginning her 22-year career in education, Jane served as counselor at an alternative school in Pearisburg, Virginia. She later taught biology and psychology at Giles High School, where she would meet her future husband, Johnny, a native of Pearisburg. Johnny and Jane both like to tell the story of how they met on the banks of Big Stoney Creek on the first day of trout fishing season, standing around a roaring bonfire, enjoying the new spring and the laughter of friends. Neither could have known at the time that they had indeed met “the love of their life.”

After marrying, Jane and Johnny moved to Pikeville, Kentucky, where Jane taught at Millard High School for 17 years. She always kept close the memories she shared with colleagues and especially with her students. She loved her students and held a special place for them in her heart. In recent years, Jane and Johnny moved back to their home state of Virginia, (Bristol), and enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting very special new ones.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Carl Hester and Kathleen Lyons Hester. She is survived by her beloved husband of 39 years, John Jacob Cecil, of the home and two brothers whom she adored: Carl Roderick (Rocky) Hester (JoAnn) of Dalton, Georgia and Monty Joe Hester (Jackie), of Radford Virginia. Also surviving are three brothers-in-law: William (Bill) Cecil (Dorisia), Fred Cecil (Karen), and Tony Cecil (Penny). Dear nephews and nieces surviving are Jennifer, Nathan, Robin, Mark, Laura Marie, Emily, Taylor and Will. Great-nieces and nephews are Will, Ella, Patricia June, and Oliver.

The service will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service at 427 E Main St, Abingdon, Va. 24210. Visitation will be from 1:00 - 2:00 with a celebration of life to follow. Interment will be held at Chapel of Memories Mausoleum of Forest Hills Memory Gardens. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice or to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, ocrahope.org.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to all those who helped Jane on her cancer journey, particularly Dr. Tamara Musgrave of Ballad Health, Dr. Laura Havrilesky, Dr. Emma Rossi, Kim Nolte, PA and all the nurses and staff at Duke University Cancer Center. A very special thanks to all the amazing staff at Ballad Health Hospice (Bristol), especially to nurse Carrie Mullins. All of you are forever in our hearts.

The Cecil family is being cared for by Farris Funeral Services, Abingdon, Virginia. 427 E. Main Street 276-623-2700.