Jackie (Jack) Boyd Hethcox, born in Tallassee on February 14, 1932 and a longtime resident of Talladega, passed away on Sunday June 17, 2018 at the age of 86. He was preceded in death by his parents Lottie May Stephens Hethcox and James Edward Hethcox, by his brothers, Charles E. Hethcox, Howard J. Hethcox and his sister Barbara Jean Hethcox Lindsey.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lucy Hardy Hethcox; his sister Joan Hethcox Herren; his daughters, Paula Gonzalez (Dr. Charles Gonzalez), Celia Dover Voorhees (Steve Voorhees); his grandchildren, Jessica Gonzalez Whitworth (Benjamin), Nicholas Gonzalez, Katherine Elizabeth Dover (Robert Hopple), and Sarah Beth Hudson (Fate Hudson); and his five great grandchildren who were very special to him – Charlotte Rose Whitworth (7), Catherine Mae Whitworth (4), Lenore Grace Whitworth (2), Violet Belle Hopple (3), and Iris Mei Hopple (8 months).
Jack met the love of his life, Lucy Hardy, in high school in Tallassee. They were married on June 8, 1952 and grew to be inseparable during their 66 years of marriage. They loved to travel together, visited most parts of the United States and travelled to Israel, England, Scotland and Norway among other countries. They especially enjoyed their time in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Jack graduated Tallassee High School in 1950 where he played football and often remembered playing against Bart Starr. From there, he served as a Sergeant in the United States Army Corps at Camp Atterbury, Indiana from 1951-1952 during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge, he attended Gradwohl School of Laboratory and X-ray Technique in St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1954, Jack began his career in health care as a medical technologist and served as director of clinical laboratory at Conecuh County Hospital. In 1962, he was named administrator of Conecuh County Hospital. In 1966, he became administrator of Citizen’s Baptist Hospital in Talladega. Shortly after his arrival, he led a campaign to build a new hospital that was completed in March, 1970. For decades, Jack was the driving force in bringing the best health care to Talladega and was widely known as “Mr. Health Care”. September 5, 1976 was Jack B. Hethcox Day in the City of Talladega. In 1994, the hospital’s new Ambulatory Care Center was named in his honor.
Jack was a devoted Christian and was baptized in the Jordan River during their travels to Israel. Jack loved the Lord and served the church in many ways – including as a Deacon and church leader at the First Baptist Church in Talladega.
In addition to his service to Jesus Christ, Jack served his community as the President of the Talladega Kiwanis, on the Board of Directors of the Talladega Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trustees of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama, these organizations among the many that were blessed by Jack’s presence.
Later in life, Jack and Lucy moved to Birmingham where they attended Lakeside Baptist Church. There, he taught a Sunday school class for many years – continuing to fulfill his passion of teaching and sharing the gospel.
Jack was truly the “Jack-of-all-trades”. He could build a house from the ground up and was an avid fisherman, and golfer. He always had a go-cart for his grandchildren to enjoy around his Talladega property – he could rebuild a motor as well as any mechanic. Jack exhibited a passion for life that was obvious to everyone who knew him. He was dearly loved and will be missed by his friends and family.
Funeral services will be held at Johns-Ridout’s in Birmingham (2116 University Blvd. Birmingham, AL, 35233) on Wednesday, June 20 at 11 a.m. Military burial services will follow at 1:15 p.m. at the Alabama National Cemetery located in Montevallo, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests for donations to be given in his memory to the Alabama Kidney Foundation at 2012 University Blvd #164 Birmingham, Alabama 35233 or Lakeside Baptist Church at 2865 Rocky Ridge Road, Birmingham, Alabama, 35243.
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