CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO RALEIGH, NC ......Greater Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church , Inc. in Louisville KentuckyA memorial wake was held at the church on Sunday, October

CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO

RALEIGH, NC 27603 TEL. (919) 833·2079

JOURNAL WllMINGTON, M.C.

~ 17 6V 6")vt OCT 30 ·97

- _,.,. -~• v11;e.

Former Wilmington Pastor Passes - Dr. 0. Alton Hester Commen·cement Celebration

By Dr. S. Adolphus Richardson

Commencement Celebration for the Reverend Dr. 0 . Alton Hester was held on Monday, October 20, 1997 at 7 p.m. The Celebration was held at the Greater Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky. A memorial wake was held at the church on Sunday, October 19, 1997 from 1 p.m. - 9 p.m. A private hour for members of the Greater Tabernacle was held from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. From 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. was for the public viewing. Choir from the Greater Tabernacle rendered fa-vorite songs of the pastor during these memorial hours as well as a video tape of Pastor Hester was played. Dr. Hester laid in _state in his pulpit on Monday until the 7 p.m. celebration. ·

Dr. Hester was the former pas-tor of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington. He also was pastor of the Lisbon Street Baptist Church, Clinton, The Mt. Zoar Baptist Church, Durham, The

yrd's Chapel Baptist Church, Rosehill St. James Baptist Church, New Bern, (James City Community). Dr. Hester was scheduled to open· revival services ,;1t the Oak Ridge Baptist Church the night of his death.

Reverend Hester, a native of f'!oxboro, was born June 30, 1924. He was left an orphan at birth but was later adopted by Lonnie and Mattie Lawson.

He was ;educated in the public school system of North Carolina and attended Angie B. Duke, P.erson County High and Haines Normal and Industrial Institute re-spectively. He received his A.B. Degree from Shaw University and Livingstone College; M.A. Degree from East Carolina University, B.D. Degree from Hood Theological Seminary, D.D. Degree from Goldsboro Christian Disciple Institute, and S.T.M. Degree from Union Theological Seminary. He majored in Psychology and Theology.

Dr. Hester, affectionately called "Pastor Hester" by his church fam-ily, was converted and baptized into the Prospect Hill Baptist Church at the age of nine years. He was licensed to preach at the age of 12; and was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1945 at the age of 15. He was called to the pastorate at the age of 15 years.

The lives of many people were. enhanced by his ministry. He served as pastor for over 30 years in the North Carolina area. He served as pastor of the First Virginia Avenue __ Baptist Church, Couisville, Kentucky, and was the Founding and Senior Pastor of Greater Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church for 24 years. Reverend Hester was known as one of the most dynamic revival preachers in North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, as well as other states. He was scheduled to be in revival this week in North Carolina. Many hundreds of souls have ac-cepted Christ during the years of his evangelistic preaching and pastorates.

Under his leadership, the Greater Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church served as a bea-

See DEATHS on page 7

IDEATHS CGhtinti~d from page 6

con light on the corner of Cypress, and Virginia. His accomplishments as the "under" shepherd were nu-merous. Under his guidance, the church purchased the facilities at 2636 Virginia Avenue and burned the mortgage within a four year period. The first pledges after the organization of Greater Tabernacle am

Reverend Hester took his flight to 1"Glory Land" on Tuesday, October 14, 1997. He leaves to cherish his . memory: Michael Alton, Jerome Stevenson of Louisville, Kentucky; Kenneth Stacey of Fort Hood, TX, Marsha Chantina Smith of Jacksonville, NC. Nine grandchildren: Kara Danielle Smith , Jacksonville, NC, Christopher Montrell, Goldsboro, NC, Demica Latrice , Jerome Stevenson, Jr. , Destiny Chevon, Alexis Devonne, Raven Ashley, Justin Montez and Chelsy Lauren Hester of Louisville, KY. Two daughte rs-in- law: Cheryll Ely e Hester, Louisville, KY, Jayzenna Hester, Goldsboro, NC. One son - ·L in-law: Kenneth Smith , Jacksonville, NC, his church family and° a host of relatives and friends.

· Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea, a But such a tide as moving seems

asleep, >i Too full for sound and foam, n

When that which drew from out ~ the boundless deep e Tums again home.

Twilight and evening bell, An'd after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of .farewell,

When I embark; For'tho' from out our boume of

Time and Place The flood may bear me far.

I hope to see my Pilot face to tac, When I have crossed the bar. -

I THE FAMILY -

CUPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO

RALEIGH, NC 27603 TEL. (919) 833-2079

... ~ \ I ~~ Teacher, Evangelist, Pastor ··. Dr. Hester, Former Pastor of Byrds Chapel, Passes

Th Alton Hest , former pastor of Byrds Chapel Baptist Church, Rose Hill, died on Tuesday, October 14, 19~ Louisville, Kentucky.

A "commencement celebration" for the noted minister was held on Monday, October 20, at 7:00p.rti. at the Greater Tabernacle Mis-sionary Baptist Church, NC. In Louisville. A memorial wake was held at the church on Sunday, October 19, from l:OOp.m. -9:00 p.m.

In addition to Byrds Chapel, Dr. Hester was the former pastor of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Cfn'.ltc'h- in Wilmington, Lisbon Street Baptist Church, Clinton; the Mt. Zoar Baptist Church, Durham; and St. James Baptist Church, New Bern (James City Community)

Dr. Hester was scheduled to open revival services at the Oak Ridge Baptist Church the night of his death.

Reverend Hester, a native of Roxboro,wasbornJune30, 1924. He was left an orphan at birth but was later adopted by Lonnie and Mattie Lawson.

Hester was educated in the pub-lic scriool system of North Caro-lina and attended Angie B. Duke, Person County High and Haines Normal and Industrial Institute, respectively. He received his A. B. Degree from Shaw University and Livingstone College; M.A. Degree from East Carolina University, B. D. Degree from Hood Theological Seminary, D. D. Degree from Goldsboro Christian Disciple In-stitute, and S. T. M. Degree from Union Theological Seminary. He majored in Psychology and Theol-ogy.

Dr. Hester, affectionately called

"Pastor Hester" by his church fam-ily, was converted and baptized into the Prospect Hill Baptist Church at the age of nine years. He was licensed to preach at the age of 12; and was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1945 at the age of 15, and that same year was called to a pastorate.

The lives of many people were enhanced by his ministry. He served as pastor for over 30 years in the North Carolina area. He served as pastor of the First Vir-ginia Avenue Baptist Church. Louisville, Kentucky, and was the Founding and Senior Pastor of Greater Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, where he served for 24 years.

Reverend Hester was known as one of the most dynamic revival preachers in North Carolina, Vir-ginia, Kentucky, as well as other states. He was scheduled to be in revival in North Carolina the week following his death. Many hun-dreds of souls accepted Christ during the years of his evangelis-tic preaching and pastorates. At Greater Tabernacle his accom-plishments were many, but per-ha s the achjevement that Pastor Hester was most proud of Is the training program instituted for the youth. He was a proud "father" on Youth Sunday watching the young people carry on the church ser-vices from Sunday School through Morning Worship Service. Eight ministers and eighteen deacons have been ordained.

Fonner positions held by Dr. Hester include the secretary of the interdenominational Ministe-rial Conference of Durham; teacher in the public school sys-tem In North Carolina; Professor of Homiletics at the Atlantic Chris-tian College Extension School of Goldsboro; first Baptist appointed to the staff as a Visiting Professor r at the Atlantic Christian College; Fonner President of the Kentucky Baptist Body Auxiliary to the Na-tional Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Incorporated; Chairman.Board of Directors for Lou.lsville Chapter Operation P.U.S.H.; and President of the Kentucky Baptist Fellow-ship Auxiliary to the Progressive National Baptist Convention In-corporated. ·

Dr. Hester also received numer-ous awards during his lifetime.

0. Alton Hester was united in holy matrimony to Edna Barnes. To this union was born five chil-dren, four sons and one daughter. -John Eric preceded him in death.

Survivors include Michael Alton, J erome Stevenson of Louisville, Kenneth Stacey of Fort Hood, TX, and Marsha Chantina Smith of Jacksonville; nine grandchildren; two daughters-in-law; one son-in-law; and his church family and those of other churches he has served. -::::::-i-~,_,__-~~

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