Esther Rebecca Hurston, of Roswell, GA passed away peacefully after a tough battle with Alzheimer’s Disease on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at the age of 75. Esther was born to parents Frederick (Fred) and Nancy Hurston on January 18, 1947, in Columbus, GA. She grew up as the only girl and the youngest of four; always under the vigilant protection of her three older brothers. Esther graduated from Jordan Vocational High School in 1965 and attended Columbus State University.
Esther bled orange and blue with her love for the Auburn Tigers. Ever since her oldest brother, Chuck, started playing football for the Tigers in 1962, she has had season tickets to all home games. During her younger years she loved watching her brothers play sports. She loved and supported her entire family fiercely. In recent years, she particularly treasured her beloved orange Maine Coon cat, O.C. (also known as “King of the Courtyard”). She was a huge fan of Snoopy, all things Peanuts, and cuddly stuffed animals. Esther was well known for her amazing taste in fashion. Finally, she most enjoyed traveling, exploring, dining, and attending Auburn Football games with her best friend of 13 years, Sue Holec.
Esther was an extremely hard worker and most of her life worked full time during the day with part time evening jobs to help fund her love of fashion. She worked very briefly as a Flight Attendant for United Airlines. She held payroll positions for Fieldcrest Mills, Auburn University, Rock Ten Moving Company, Georgia Baptist Hospital, & The Shepherd Center. She also worked part-time in the evenings for many years for various stores at Lenox Mall including Macy’s, Ann Taylor, and Sephora.
Esther is survived by two of her brothers, James Edward Hurston (Jean Hoppe Hurston) of Virginia Beach, VA and John Walter Hurston (June Metts Hurston) of Opelika, Alabama; her sister-in-law, Thomasina Condrack Hurston of Johns Creek, GA; her nieces, De Laney Hurston Johnson (Bill Johnson) of Columbus, GA, and Audra Hurston Anders (Troy Kirkland Anders) of Dunwoody, GA; her nephew, Charles Edward Hurston of East Point, GA; three great nephews, William Baily Johnson of Columbus, GA, Troy Hurston Anders of Phoenix, AZ, Walter Frederick Anders of Auburn, AL and a great-niece, De Laney Louise Johnson of Columbus, GA.
Esther is preceded in death by her father, Frederick Edward Hurston, her mother Nancy Loudermilk Hurston and her brother, Charles Frederick Hurston.
A private memorial gathering for family and close friends will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at 4 PM. A separate reception for the members of the community in Brookhaven where Esther lived for 25 years will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2022, from 6-7 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to one of the following two charities:
- The Atlanta Humane Society| PO Box 746181, Atlanta, GA 30374| https://give.atlantahumane.org
- Alzheimer’s Association| https://www.alz.org/
The family would like to offer a special thanks for the wonderful professional hospice care during Esther’s final months provided by Ennoble Care.
Please take a moment to read Esther’s favorite Bible verse: John 15: 11-17
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Fischer Funeral Care and Cremation Services | https://www.fischerperimeterchapel.com |3742 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.
