Dr. Hester Burnett Lawson Jones, Ph.D. was born on December 10, 1950 in Oxford, North Carolina to the union of the late Cleotes Lawson Sr. and Dolly P. Lawson. She was the classic middle child; the fifth of the couple's ten children: the youngest of the oldest and the oldest of the youngest. Hester, named after her maternal Grandmother and affectionately known as "Hes", answered the Lord's call home during the early morning of December 6, 2025 after suffering a massive stroke a few weeks earlier. At peace in mind, heart, body, and spirit, we imagine she kissed the morning sun greeting the Elders uttering one of her favorite sayings, the title of a classic Christian hymn, "it is well with my Soul".

Hester accepted Christ at a young age at Vernon Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Oxford, North Carolina. She continued her faith in God by experiencing the beauty of Christian denominations and liturgies throughout her life.

Hester took a different path when it came to her education. Although she received her early schooling in the segregated Person County Public Schools and enjoyed all aspects of learning, her determination to stand apart became evident in her decision to attend Roxboro High School—the white high school in Roxboro, North Carolina—from which she graduated in June 1968. As she explained, "I always wanted to be different when it came to education, so I went there. And I never had no problems."

Hester's independent spirit carried into her pursuit of higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, North Carolina, in May 1972; a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, in August 1979; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, in June 1997. Her dissertation was entitled, "The Adult Degree Completion Program Among Selected Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States." In addition, Hester wrote a book entitled "Black Girls Don't Sing Country Music", Infinity Publishing 2006.

Hester was an educator and later a college administrator. She began her career as an Instructor in the Department of Business at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia, where she taught from 1981–1985. During her time there, she taught a range of lower- and upper-level business courses, including finance, accounting, marketing, management, and business research and communication. From 1985–2006, Hester served as a Professor in the Department of Business at Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville, Virginia. She then became Vice President for Academic Affairs at Virginia University of Lynchburg, serving from 2006–2008. Hester concluded her professional career by returning to Saint Paul's College, where she served as both a Professor in the Business Department and an Assessment Counselor with the college's Organizational Management Program.

Throughout her distinguished career, Hester earned numerous awards and honors. Most notably, she was named an IBM Faculty Fellow twice and received a United Negro College Fund/Lilly Foundation Award. Most recently, she worked as a substitute teacher at Edward W. Wyatt Middle School in Emporia, Virginia—an experience that gave her a meaningful outlet and one she greatly cherished.

Hester loved music, especially marching band performances. She played flute in NCCU's marching band, the renowned "Sound Machine," throughout her four years of college. She was also deeply passionate about mentorship, especially supporting young Black women and girls. She continuously encouraged her family, friends, students, and colleagues to reach their fullest potential. Hester also adored animals, especially her five cherished cats.

Hester was preceded in death by three sisters, Dolly Smith (1993; Phil deceased), Demetrious Lawson (2018), Frankie Turner (2022; Anthony deceased), and her older brother, to whom she dedicated her Ph.D. dissertation, PFC Raymond Christopher Lawson (1968; KIA Vietnam). Remaining to cherish her memory are her husband of 34 years, David Jones; her son, Kwame Lawson (Camille), and her beloved grandson, Kai Lawson; two sisters, Lola Johnson (James) and Esther Singh (Teja); three brothers, Rev. Cleotis Lawson Jr. (Katrina), Noel Lawson, and Perry Lawson; ten nieces, Tonya Thomas, Dr. Sharon Thomas-Parker (Derek), Sherri Kress, Susie Johnson, Angel Johnson, Karmeshia Tuck, Paresa Lawson, Ava Ayres (Alex), Kelley Lawson, and Chenoa Lawson; three nephews, Cleotis Lawson III (Theresa), Stephen Lawson, Esq. and "Gumdrop", Anthony Turner Jr.; and a host of other close relatives, friends, students (current and former), and dear ones.

Hester's thirst for knowledge, education, teaching, and sharing enriched every life she touched. Although we will miss her dearly, her legacy of love, compassion, and guidance will continue to live within us and through us forever.

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Statement of Philosophy: The one pathway that leads to knowledge about humankind and the existence thereof, is education. Education cultivates intelligence that awakens the truth that lies within us. Every individual deserves the opportunity to obtain an education for the betterment of self, community, and society at-large. --Dr. Hester B. Lawson Jones, Ph.D.

Viewing will be from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Saturday, December 13, 2025 at Brown's Funeral Service (704 N Main St. Lawrenceville, VA 23868). Funeral Services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 14, 2025 at Vernon Hill Missionary Baptist Church (80 Vernon Hill Church Rd. Oxford, NC 27565). Burial will follow in the Lawson Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery, Roxboro, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the Family request donations to the: United Negro College Fund, www.uncfgift.org, "A Mind is A Terrible Thing to Waste"…

Arrangements entrusted to Wright Funeral Home of Oxford, NC.