Tommie Joe "TJ" Hester

A graveside service for TJ Hester will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Rd. in Shreveport, Louisiana. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., in Shreveport. Officiating the service will be Minister Ransom Ashley.

TJ went home to be with our Heavenly Father on August 2, 2023 just a few days shy of his 89th birthday. He was born on August 11, 1934 in Bienville, Louisiana to Mr. Tom Pink and Mrs. Dennie Gladys Beasley Hester. He was the oldest of three sons with younger brothers, Alvin Clifton “AC” Hester and James Bennett Hester. He graduated from Doyline High School in 1952. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps and was stationed in San Diego, CA before he was honorably discharged. When he returned home, he found work with the natural gas pipeline. He also married the love of his life, Edna Maxine “Mackie” Woodward, on September 29, 1956 in Shreveport. Together, they had five children: Joey (1957), Sammy (1959), Phillip (1961), Tina (1962), and Denny (1969). While raising his family, he worked for the City of Shreveport Water and Sewage Department for 30 years until he retired. He and Edna shared a home in Keithville, LA until she passed in October of 2001.

TJ enjoyed the simple things in life like soaking up the afternoons in his rocking chair on his front porch. He also enjoyed walks down to “the pond” where he spent many hours fishing with his children, grandchildren, and even his great-grandchildren. On Saturdays, you could find him watching LSU Tigers and on Sundays watching New Orleans Saints. TJ loved to garden. When family or friends came to his house, they always left with all kinds of vegetables he had grown. He also enjoyed preparing his famous potato salad for family Sunday afternoon lunches. He will be remembered for his wit and carefree attitude.

TJ is preceded in death by his wife, Edna; father, Tom; mother, Gladys; brother, AC; and granddaughter, Lauren Childers.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Joey and wife, Tina, and their children: Adam, Jacob (Katie), Chance (Caitlin), Mackenzie, and Jon-Thomas; Sammy and wife, Tracy, and their children: Pat, Dan (JoRae), and Landon (Anthony); Phillip and wife, Karen, and their children: Briana Peet (Matthew), and Cody; Tina Lodatto and husband, Donny, and their children: Tony (April), Kristina and Kasey; Denny and wife, Michelle, and their children: Jordan and Kennedy; his brother, Bennett, and wife, Karen; along with numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Honoring TJ as pallbearers will be Adam Hester, Jacob Hester, Jon-Thomas Hester, Dan Hester, Landon Hester, Cody Hester, and Tony Lodatto.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Holy Angels in Shreveport (www.laholyangels.org).