Mrs. Hester Loftis

Hester Mae Loftis was born on November 15, 1931, to the parentage of Lue Frank Fry and Willie Lue Harris-Fry from Larissa, Texas. She was the youngest of eight siblings. She attended school in Larissa, Texas, for a short time and graduated from Cuney High School, where she was well-known as an outstanding extemporaneous speaker. Both schools were located in Cherokee County District. She met and married the love of her life, Aaron Robert Loftis from Jacksonville, Texas, on February 25, 1954, and within this union of 59 years five precious baby girls were born. Hester went on to graduate from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree, she began her career as an Executive Secretary at the Fred Finch Law Firm, but continued her education to become a paralegal. She retired as an Executive Secretary and Paralegal under the Finch Law Firm, which was later taken over by son-in-law, James Belt. Hester was baptized into the Church of Christ as a young adult at the Border Street Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Texas. A.R. then moved his family to Tyler for a short time and then to Dallas, Texas, where they became members of the Lawrence and Marder Church of Christ. They later placed membership at Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ, where she remained an active and faithful member until her health failed. She taught Sunday school classes for several years to young children, and was also a member of the Sunshine Visitation Ministry. She faithfully and zealously attended her Sunday school class and Wednesday night classes. Hester loved to sing and enjoyed being a member of the MACC choir. Her husband, A.R. Loftis, was a truck driver and spent a lot of time on the road, which left the bulk of child rearing to the mother. The Wednesday night bible class at Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ honored Hester for her “touch of wisdom” as a dedication of empowerment and building a Christian household. Hester was the wife of the late Deacon A.R. Loftis and maintained the title of one of the oldest wives of an ordained deacon at Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ until his passing on April 25, 2013. For many years, Hester loved and looked forward to playing dominoes every Friday night with a group of senior citizens, members and friends of Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ. Hester entered into her eternal home on August 3, 2017. She was welcomed with opened arms by her loving husband of fifty-nine years, Aaron Robert Loftis; her beloved daughter, Cynthia Loftis; parents, Lue and Willie Fry; sisters, Ethel Franklin, Jeanie Mae Alexander, Odessa Guinn, and Earline Jones; and brother, S.D. Fry. Left to cherish her memories are daughters, Gail Walker (Gregory) of DeSoto, Texas, Eva Hill of Cedar Hill, Texas, Jacqueline Howard (Willie, Jr.) of DeSoto, Texas, and Linda Pinnock (Roan) of DeSoto, Texas; grandchildren, Harland Hill, Adrian Hill, LaNae Barnes, Kerry Hill, Eric Walker, Willie Howard III, Marcus Howard, Christopher Lopez-Loftis, Derek Lopez, Denzel Howard, Simone Pinnock, and Saniya Pinnock; great-grandchildren, Harland, Ava, Kahlia, Jada, Mason, Eryn Mae, Caiya and Dallas; brothers, K.J. Fry (Marceil) of Larissa, Texas, Rev. George Fry (Willie) of Washington, Texas, and Bishop Fry of Mansfield, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.