Mary Hester

Mary Elizabeth Stewart Hester went to be with her Heavenly Father and with friends and family who have gone before her. She died Tuesday night, July 31, 2012, at DCH Regional Medical Center. Funeral services to celebrate Mary's life will be 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, at Forest Lake United Methodist Church, 1711 4th Avenue in Tuscaloosa, with Dr. Chris Denson and the Rev. Hal Noble officiating. Burial will follow in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home South directing. Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the funeral service Friday at Forest Lake United Methodist Church. Mary was born in Fayette, Alabama on May 14, 1933. She grew up in the small community of Crossville, located in Lamar County. She was a high school graduate of Lamar County High School and attended Livingston State Teachers College. She began her working career at the First National Bank of Tuscaloosa in February 1952. She changed employment in August 1957 to R.L. Zeigler Meat Packing Company, Inc., and had remained there for 55 years. Except for vacations, she only missed six days of work until her recent illness. She was married to her husband, Thomas P. "Tommy"� Hester on Christmas Eve in 1952. Mary was an active member of Forest Lake United Methodist Church. She has served as Children's Sunday School Teacher, served on the altar guild, and was President of her United Methodist Women's Circle. Mary was a Past President of the Tuscaloosa Jayceettes. She was a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of West Alabama and a contributor to many local charitable organizations. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, John A. and Lazelle H. Stewart, and many relatives. She is survived by her husband, Thomas P. "Tommy"� Hester; her son, Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tommy Lane Hester and his wife, Iris; her grandsons, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Michael S. Hester and his wife, Jennifer, and Jonathan S. Hester; his granddaughter, Christina Marie Hester; three great-grandsons, Christian, Jacob, and Josiah; her brother, Harold R. "Buddy"� Stewart and his wife, Laura; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Pallbearers will be David Burton Jr., Bobby Ray Hicks, Jim Jayne, Hillary Jeffcoat, Bert Jones, Harold Phillips, and Henry L. Smithson. Honorary pallbearers are Mr. and Mrs. Amos Burns, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Barnett, Mr. and Mrs. D.G. Elliott, Lucy Jordan, Dr. Milla Boschung, Dr. Sue Parker, John Pradat, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Sexton, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy McAbee, Mrs. Billy Jean Smithson, Jean Hinton, Mrs. Mary Nell Hallman, officers and employees of R.L. Zeigler, Inc., members of the Genecian Sunday School Class of Forest Lake United Methodist Church, and staff of Gate-Way to Beauty. The Hester family expresses our special thanks and appreciation to Dr. Charles Gross, Dr. Bradley Bilton, nurses and staff of the Surgical Trauma ICU, and the nurses and staff of the 5th Floor South and the 6th Floor South of DCH Regional Medical Center for their professional and caring services rendered to Mary and her family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Building Fund of Forest Lake United Methodist Church, 1711 4th Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, or to one's favorite charity.