Barbara Ann Thedy Hester

Barbara Thedy Hester, 60, of Gulfport died Friday, November 30, 2012 in Gulfport. Barbara was born and grew up in New Orleans, LA. She graduated from high school at Mount Carmel Academy and earned a BA degree in English at the University of New Orleans. She taught at St. Edward the Confessor Grammar School for several years before moving to Gulfport and beginning a new career as a free-lance court reporter. In mid-life, Barbara realized a dream come true of becoming an archaeologist. After participating with her husband, John, as amateur “diggers” in three archaeological excavations in Israel, she entered graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi and received her Master of Arts degree in Anthropology. Her focus of study was the French Colonial period in the region of the northern shores of the Gulf of Mexico, particularly the Mississippi Gulf coast. She participated in excavations and conducted artifact analyses in conjunction with a number of local sites, including Moran in Biloxi, Old Mobile, Grand Bay in Jackson County, and Ship Island. Barbara served as president of the Mississippi Archaeological Association for a term of two years. She also assumed a leadership role in public archaeological projects promoting the importance of the preservation of cultural resources within the local community. Barbara achieved her goals in life through perseverance and hard work, but she remained a kind and gentle person who cared most about others. She will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by her husband, John F. Hester of Gulfport; parents, Hermon and Joyce Thedy of Metairie, LA; two sons, Raymond M. (Gabrielle) Lee of Landenberg, PA and David J. (Kimberly) Lee of Covington, LA; a sister, Carol Lagasse of New Orleans, LA; and four grandchildren, Rachel, Jonathan, Adeleine and Matthew. Visitation will be Monday, December 3, 2012 at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport from 5:00pm until 7:00pm. The funeral service will be at 10:00am Tuesday in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Biloxi National Cemetery. The family prefers memorials to Child fund International, 2821 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, VA 23294-3726.