John Durden "J.D." Hess

Celebration of life service for John Durden "J.D." Hess will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the Pete Mathews Coliseum in Jacksonville with Dr. Randy Postell officiating and Jana McGinnis, Gloria Floyd, and Jody Whaley delivering personal remarks. His family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service at the Coliseum. Burial will follow the service in Anniston Memorial Gardens. He is preceded in death by his parents, Manley and Oris Hess; great granddaughter, Elise Jones; siblings, Manley Hess, Charles Hess, and Mary Ann Haynie. Left to cherish the memory of J.D. are his wife of 47 years, Debbie Sprayberry Hess; daughters, Jessica Cobb (Derek) and Stacie Ross (Jim); grandchildren, Caroline Cobb, Jay Michael Cobb, Kyle Daugherty (Kim) and Katelyn Chandler (Allen); great grandchildren, Kennedy Carlisle and Emersyn Jones; siblings, Doris Prickett (Joel), Ada Nolan, and Mary Hess. J.D. was a lifelong resident of Calhoun County. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Saks and served his church faithfully. His service to the community began as a young boy delivering groceries for Hess Grocery. He attended Saks High School and graduated in 1965. After high school, he worked at Smith Sporting Goods. Later he served in the United States Army Reserves. He was a fireman with the Anniston Fire Department and served for 20 years until his retirement in 1989. After retiring from AFD, he was the owner and operator of Hess Siding. He was the longest serving Calhoun County Commissioner of 28 years, serving in this capacity from 1990-1998, and 2002 – 2022. He was a past President of the JSU Gamecock Club and a past President of the Saks Civitan Club. He was a charter member of Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors. He enjoyed helping the community with projects to include community centers and parks, Calhoun County Ag Center, youth and school activities, and Camp McClellan Horse Trails. He spent his life serving his community and more importantly his family. He was a friend to everyone. Those serving as pallbearers will be Tobi Burt, John Cassell, Manley Haynie, Brian Hess, Phillip Nolan, Jerry Roach, Danny Stokes, and Gray Warren. Honorary pallbearers will be Jax State Softball Alumni. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the JSU Foundation (700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, AL 36265), with check memos to be listed as "J.D. Hess Memorial Scholarship Fund" or to the Back Country Horsemen of America (127 Mud Hole Road, Anniston, AL 36205) with checks payable to BCHA McClellan. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John Durden, please visit our Tree Store.