Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, 2020, in Magnolia Cemetery for James Douglas “Doug” Hester, 55, a truckdriver by trade and resident of Greenville, who died unexpectedly on July 6, while transporting military cargo in South Dakota. The Rev. Herbert Brown officiated. Visitation was held from 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, July 11 from the chapel of Dunklin & Daniels Funeral Home.

Doug was born on Nov. 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, Ill., and went on to be stationed in San Diego, Calif. He was later stationed in Seattle, Wash., 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.

His paternal grandparents, Saint Joseph Hester and Louis Gertrude Harvill Hester, and his maternal grandparents, Leroy Douglas Reid and Effie Belle Dykes, preceded Mr. Hester in death.

Survivors include his wife, Tracy Hall Hester; parents, Jimmy and Jeanette Hester; children, Joseph Ryan Hester (Katie) and Jessica Rosalyn Hester; stepson, Samuel Riley (Brittany); brother, Greg Hester (Pam Stokes); sister, Kimberlei Ruggles (Kenny); grandchildren, Jaxson Hester, Jameson Hester and Allison Riley, and four nephews, Drew Hester, Trey (Alex) Bowen, Reid Bowen and Sam Bowen.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Heart Association in memory of Doug.

Online condolences can be made at www.dunklinanddanielsfh.com

Dunklin & Daniels Funeral Home directed.