John Berry Hester, Jr., age 81, of Belgreen, passed away October 3, 2005. Services will be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2005, at 11 a.m. at Spry Memorial Chapel with Jackie Richardson, Minister of Belgreen Church of Christ, officiating. Interment will be in Belgreen Cemetery.

Mr. Hester was preceded in death by his parents, John Berry Hester, Sr. and Willie (Aunt Bill) Hester.

Pallbearers will be Jack Hester, Robin Grissom, R. H. Tompkins, John Taylor, Thomas Cleveland, Leamon Suneral and Cleophis King. Honorary bearers will be Buck Jones, Jack Fowler, Veto Hester, John Robert Horton, Morris Woodruff and Ross Glasgow.

Mr. Hester is survived by his wife of 59 years, Grace Hamilton Hester, and sons Radford Hester and wife Connie, of Fayette, Johnny Hester of Muscle Shoals, and Richie Hester and wife Amy, of Belgreen; and his grandchildren, Shane Hester, Leigh Hester, Joby Hester, Gabe Hester, Dean Hester and wife Amy, Eric Hester, Maggie Hester, Asia Hester, Colt Hester and Abby Hester.

Mr. Hester was a longtime member of the Belgreen Church of Christ. He was a graduate of Belgreen High School and attended college at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, while serving in the U.S. Navy. He was a World War II veteran. He served in the United States Navy in the South Pacific Theater of operations, serving almost two years on the island of Guam. After the war, John B., as he was called, sold appliances and then new and used cars in the Russellville area. He operated a used car lot in Russellville for many years as well as having an additional lot in Haleyville for a period of time. He also served as a salesperson and used car sales manager for several car dealerships in the Russellville-Florence area. He and his family owned and operated a gas and grocery store in the Belgreen Community for more than 47 years. In later years, they added a bait shop to the grocery store.

John B. was active in trading cattle and horses for a period of time, and he and his sons were also actively involved in the racking horse and Tennessee Walking Horse business for several years.

Mr. Hester started work for TVA as a truck driver in 1976 and remained there until his retirement in 1994. A special thanks to three special relatives: Faye McCulloch, Judy Gates and Gene Hamilton.

Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family.