Hester Hamilton Meyers

Hester Hamilton Meyers was born on February 5, 1939 and died on August 10, 2024. She was born in Mount Morris and brought up in Morrisville, NY where her father was a teacher and administrator at Morrisville Technical College and her mother was a homemaker until she and her siblings went to school at which time she got a Master’s in Education and began teaching in district elementary schools. Hester, her sister Harriet and brother Ray had an idyllic childhood in a small town.

She moved to Buffalo and pursued and completed a degree in Elementary Education from then Buffalo State Teachers College (now part of the SUNY system) where she met Ronald Meyers. Ron and Hester were married on July 15, 1961. They lived in Gowanda, NY and then Rochester, NY as Ron taught art at the local elementary school and later as he pursed his Master’s degree in ceramics. In 1972, they moved to Athens where Ron taught ceramics at the University of Georgia.

While raising her three children: Edward, Karen and David, she briefly taught second grade and worked as a parapro at Barrow Elementary. She then pursued and completed her Masters in Library Education from the University of Georgia. She became the librarian at Barrow and during that time, the title morphed to Media Specialist. In 1990, she moved to Whit Davis in the Media Specialist role until 1994 when she retired. After retirement, she was a substitute teacher and also worked at Jackson Street Books for several years.

Hester’s interests were always her family, reading, knitting, her close friends (especially her close women friends known as “the Babes” and “the Silhouettes”) and being involved in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens. During her years attending the Fellowship she served as RE coordinator, UUAF board (one year as secretary), the Ministerial Support committee, the building committee, two ministerial search committees, coordinator of Second Lookers program as well as helping out with Nifty Gifty and making coffee after service gatherings. She was a member during the terms of every minister beginning with Cliff Hoffman to Rev. Dr. Pippin Whitaker.

She has been a blood donor since she was 18 after her father died from a blood disease and she was grateful for the transfusions he received for the two years of his illness. Hester was always very proud that David continued this tradition of giving blood in honor of his grandfather.

Hester is survived by her husband Ron, her three children: Edward (Jackie), Karen (Alex) and David (Dawn), her seven grandchildren: Jordi, Eric (Natsumi), Zachary, Aaron, Amelia, Kiera, and Lily and 2 great grandchildren: Ken and Vivian. Her grandchildren all have fond memories of going on a special grandchild trip with their Gram and of receiving a card every birthday and holiday that included a $2 bill. She never missed the opportunity to send a card or handmade gift to her extended family and friend network.

Hester is grateful for the loving care she received from Shari Mitchell and Christopher’s Bridge Home Care during the last weeks and days of her life.

Contributions made to the UGA Foundation/Ron Meyers Student Support Fund in Ceramics https://gail.uga.edu/commit?search=71953003&desonly=1 or to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Athens by following this link: onrealm.org/UUFA/give/endowment or Text "UUFA endowment" to 73256.

All are invited to her Celebration of Life Service on September 21, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., at Barrow Elementary School, 100 Pinecrest Dr., Athens, GA 30605.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.