JAMES DOUGLAS HESTER
James Douglas Hester (Doug), a truck driver by trade and resident of Greenville, died unexpectedly on July 6, 2020 at the age of 55 while transporting military cargo in South Dakota.
Doug is survived by his wife, Tracy Hall Hester; his parents, Jimmy and Jeanette Hester; his children, Joseph Ryan Hester (Katie) and Jessica Rosalyn Hester; his stepson, Samuel Riley (Brittany); his brother, Greg Hester (Pam Stokes); his sister, KimberleiRuggles (Kenny); his grandchildren, Jaxson Hester, Jameson Hester, and Allison Riley; and four nephews, Drew Hester, Trey (Alex) Bowen, Reid Bowen, and Sam Bowen.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Saint Joseph Hester and Louis Gertrude Harvill Hester and his maternal grandparents, Leroy Douglas Reid and Effie Belle Dykes.
Doug was born on November 6, 1964 in Mobile. He graduated from Faith Academy in 1983 and pursued an electronics certificate from a trade school in Birmingham.
While in Birmingham, he joined the Navy in 1984. He graduated from basic training from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center near Chicago and went on to be stationed in San Diego. He was later stationed in Seattle and was part of the recommissioning of the U.S.S. Sphinx.
The Sphinx did a tour from Washington to Charleston, S.C. in which Doug was able to travel through the Panama Canal. After being discharged from the Navy, Doug moved to the Quad Cities area of Davenport and Rock Island and became a truckdriver.
He hauled all types of freight for several years out of that area until finally moving back to Greenville in 2007. He really loved driving for Rhett Butler Trucking Inc. hauling heavy pieces of equipment. He especially enjoyed driving his red Kenworth truck all over the United States from California to the East Coast hauling different types of military equipment.
Doug was also an accomplished carpenter. He loved to build things including one of his last projects consisting of a fence with each picket being hand cut by him. He also enjoyed carving wood pieces to create different gifts for others.
A graveside service was scheduled for Saturday, July 11, at Magnolia Cemetery at 11 a.m. with Reverend Herbert Brown officiating and Dunklin & Daniels Funeral Home directing. Visitation was held from 10 – 10:45 a.m. from the chapel of Dunklin & Daniels Funeral Home.
Online condolences can be made at https://www.dunklinanddanielsfh.com/