Anna Atkinson Hester, 94, of Bryan, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2025, of natural causes. She was born on Jan. 20, 1931, in Abbeville, La., to Frederick Irving Atkinson and Katherine Reynolds Atkinson.
Anna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and a friend to many. She thoroughly enjoyed and truly cherished time spent with her family showing unconditional love in every respect.
She is survived by her sons, Randall Lee Hester and wife, Betsy, and Charles Brady Hester. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Nicole Mansfield and husband, Robb, Corrie Stark, Keith Hester and wife, April, Kevin Hester and wife, Joelle, Kassi Hester, and Ashley Hester; great- grandchildren Ellie Hester, Oliver Douglass, Clayton Hester, Anna Hester, Cruise Hester, Nora Hester, Brandon Roselius and wife, Cassandra, Nicholas Beattie, Rhiannon Stark, Ryenn Stark, and Rylee Stark; great-great-grandchildren Mylee Stark, Bodhi Brown, and Mose Brown; nephews, Gary Schubert and wife, Marcia, Joe Bob Hester Jr. and wife, Rhonda; niece, Lisa Hester Horton and husband, Billy, along with 10 great-nieces and -nephews.
As a child, Anna developed a talent and love for dancing which carried her throughout her life including teaching from her teen years into adulthood. She maintained a dance studio in her home until becoming a mother.
She attended Louisiana State University and later married Clayton Gene Hester on Nov. 24, 1951, which began a 65-year relationship which can only be described as a shining, real-life example of God’s design for marriage at work. They enjoyed every moment of their lives together whether they were dancing, fishing, spending time with family, especially grandkids, or just spending time with each other. They thoroughly enjoyed attending both Groveton High School and Texas A&M football games with some very special memories made with the grandkids camping in the Texas A&M RV parking lot for many years.
Anna became an active volunteer in Beaumont, where she and Clayton raised their family. She served as a Cub Scout Den Mother, Director of the Poultry Show and Auction at the South Texas State Fair & Rodeo, and PTA President at Roy H. Guess Elementary School while attending her son’s countless youth sporting events and 4-H activities.
After retirement, she and Clayton moved to Groveton, where they became active members of Groveton United Methodist Church. She sang in the choir while he played the piano and organ. She ran the computer lab for Groveton High School until they moved to College Station to be near family.
She spent her final years under the excellent loving care provided by Crestview Methodist Retirement Center in Bryan. She loved them like family, always appreciative of their care and concern for her well-being.
Anna’s Christian faith was evident by her love, friendliness, kindness and joy toward everyone, including strangers. She will be remembered for her positive disposition, kind spirit, loving attitude, dedication to family, comforting manner and unwavering faith.
Services will be held on March 22, 2025, at Groveton First United Methodist Church, 181 E 1st St., in Groveton. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. before the service at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at the Fellowship Hall provided by the Groveton United Methodist Church Ladies. A graveside service will then follow at Glenwood Cemetery on Cemetery Road in Groveton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Groveton First United Methodist Church or Hospice Brazos Valley in Anna’s memory.
Pallbearers will be Randall Lee Hester, Charles Brady Hester, Gary Schubert, Keith Hester, Kevin Hester and Randy Lewis.
Honorary pallbearers will be great grandsons Oliver Douglass, Clayton Hester and Cruise Hester. 600
