Dwight Leland Hester

Dwight Leland Hester, age 77, formerly of Coweta County, died May 14, 2008 at Canton Nursing Center. Dwight was born July 6, 1930 in Coweta County to the late Russell Clyde and Birdie Mae McKoy Hester. He was educated first in the Coweta County Schools and entered the United States Navy in 1950. He served aboard the USS Wasp and was honorably discharged in 1954. He was ordained a minister of the gospel by Elim Baptist Church on March 3, 1963. In 1968 he graduated from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX with a Masters in Divinity degree. He continued to pastor churches throughout his life of service to his Lord. During his association with the Southern Baptist Convention, he was a chaplain with the Disaster Recovery Team. After retiring from the active pastorate, he attended Douglas Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. Surviving Dwight is his wife Esther Beard Hester of Canton. His children are Leland Hester and his wife Angie of Newnan; Joy Finch and her husband Marty of Woodstock; Jon Hester and his wife Leigh Ann of Marietta. His grandchildren are Jason Hardegree of Newnan, Mistee Menard, Joe Menard and Haley Grace Menard of Newnan, Tori Brewster and Camryn Brewster of Newnan, Jennifer Finch, Andy Finch of Woodstock, Mary Hester and Libby Hester of Marietta. His siblings are Mae Alice Hester of Newnan, Winona Bryan and her husband Ronald of Cleveland, GA, Josephine Hermes and her husband Mo of Newnan, Beulah Lewis and her husband Gene of Cleveland MS, Koy Hester and his wife Margie of Newnan. Funeral arrangements are by McKoon Funeral Home at 38 Jackson Street in Newnan. For friends in the Woodstock area there will be a visitation at Wildwood Baptist Church 4801 Wade Green Road Acworth GA 30102 770-428-2100. The funeral service will be on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 2:00 PM at Elim Baptist Church at 1529 Handy Road in Newnan. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday beginning at 1:00 PM. Reverend Frank Johnson will officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Living Hope Ministries International LHMI P.O. Box 2765 Acworth, GA 30102 www.lhmi.org or to Southern Baptist Convention - Cooperative Program Executive Committee Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program Allocation Budget - In Memory of Dwight L. Hester 901 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203 Online condolences may be expressed at www.mckoon.com.

Dwight Leland Hester

July 6, 1930 - May 14, 2008