Hester James was born on May 20, 1938, to Smith Roger James and Henrietta Yokely James in Cumberland, Virginia.

At an early age Hester joined Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Cartersville, VA. She was educated at Turkey Court Elementary School and went on to middle and high school at Luther Porter Jackson.

After leaving high school, Hester moved to Richmond, VA to seek employment, where she worked as a waitress at several restaurants and hotels. When she stopped working as a waitress, she gained employment at MCV hospital while studying to become a licensed CNA. She loved helping and caring for sick and shut in patients. She also worked for several home healthcare agencies and when her workload lightened up, she started coming back to her home church. She served as choir director along with singing in the choir. Hester also joined the kitchen committee, where she served faithfully on both the choir and the kitchen committee. Her health began to fail, and she had to retire. Hesters motto was "if it's not broken, don't fix it."

Hester departed this life after a short illness on May 1st, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Harry L. James, and one son, Nelson T. (Buck) James.

Leaving to cherish her precious memories: a daughter, Magnolia Grooms (Karl); one granddaughter, Stephanie James of Lynchburg, VA; three brothers, Curtis W. James, Sr., (Drucilla) of Cumberland, VA, Eugene W. James, Sr., of North Chesterfield, VA, Lloyd L. James, Sr., of Cumberland, VA; a sister, Deloris Hunter (Raymond) Richmond, VA, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends, devoted friends, Fannie Robinson, Cecil Austin, Richard and Patricia Phillips, Nellie Mitchell, Curtis McClendon, and Rhonda Beaks.

To My loved ones

Don't weep nor cry because I didn't say goodbye!

Although my road was rough and at

times my going got tough

Sometimes it was hard for me

to stand even in pain

I couldn't give up;

I had much more to gain.

I know I didn't come to stay.

God called me home on the 1st of May.

It was a lot I wanted to say I didn't bother

because I'm going home to be

with my heavenly Father

Acknowledgements

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all those who have expressed their sympathies through prayers, cards, texts, phone calls or just stopping by during our time of bereavement. May God bless you and His love be yours to share.