Dr. J. David Hester

Hester, James David, The Reverend Doctor J. David Hester - 83, beloved father, grandfather, greatgrandfather and friend to many and servant of God passed into the waiting arms of his loving Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, July 31, 2014. He was a native of Paducah, KY and a lifelong minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church having served in Pastorates in Wingo and Shady Grove churches in Kentucky; Waverly, Mariah, Cumberland Valley, and Colonial throughout West Tennessee and was pastor of First Cumberland Presbyterian church in Knoxville from 1970 - 1984. He was inaugurated as the President of Memphis Theological Seminary in 1984 and served until his retirement in 1997. He continued to serve the church and community at large in many capacities including: Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of East Tennessee, Presbytery Pastor, Moderator of a number of Presbyteries throughout Tennessee. Moderator of the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly in 1969. He served in a host of agencies and boards from 1955 until 2014 including: Board of Missions, Board of Trustees at Memphis Theological Seminary, Commissioner to the General Assembly, Treasurer, Boy Scouts and proud to be an active part of the Power exhibit for the 1982 World's Fair. J. David was a graduate of Bethel College, the Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Memphis State University and Fuller Theological Seminary. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara Anne Connor Hester, his parents, Sam and Linda Hester, brother, Charles Hester and sister, Lucille Hester Cursey. He is survived by children: Dianne Pipkin and husband Paul of Knoxville, Rev. Mark Hester and wife Sally of Friendsville, Melanie Kuhnhenn and husband Mark of Farmington, MN and Timothy Hester and wife Donna of Norris; grandchildren: Amy & Jon Huether, Julie & Justin Rech, Kevin and Erin Pipkin, Sarah Pipkin, Nathaniel Hester, Rebecca & David Miller, Robert & Casey Hester, Megan & Matt Bonfield, Matthew Kuhnhenn, Heather & Sinisa Kostic, Evan Seigmund, Connor Hester, Zoe Hester, Rebecca Seigmund; great grandchildren: Joshua, Jennifer and Josephine Rech, Jameson Huether, Kian and Kinsey Pipkin, Phoenix Miller, Leah Bonfield, Henry Hester. Funeral service will be held at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, TN at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 3rd with Rev. Mike Wilkinson and The Rev. Dr. J. Daniel Earheart-Brown officiating. Interment will follow immediately at Highland Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, August 2nd at Rose Mortuary Mann's Heritage Chapel. Memorials may be made to First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 6900 Nubbin Ridge Road, Knoxville, TN 37919 and Memphis Theological Seminary (Hester Endowment) 168 E. Parkway S., Memphis, TN 38104. On-line condolences may be extended at www.rosemortuary.com. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

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Dr. J. David Hester

March 18, 1931 - July 31, 2014