Rev. Dr. James (Jimmy) Hester of Arlington, Texas went to be with the Lord on Sunday morning, March 19, 2017 at age 86.
Jimmy surrendered to preach at the ripe old age of 18 after graduating from Polytechnic High School in Ft. 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.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that you make a contribution to the ministry.
He was pastor of Southern Baptist Churches for fourteen 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 twenty years. At his retirement, he formed Jim Hester Missionary Ministries, where he served until his home going.
He is preceded in death by his Father, Winston Hester, his Mother Cecil (nee Walker) Hester, brother Winston (Dub) Hester, Jr., and granddaughter Autumn Rawlinson.
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) and niece Becky Stewart, 11 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.