Ms. Hester Whitaker, age 97 and formerly of Richland Street, passed away on Saturday February 25, 2017 at Pruitt Health in Columbia, South Carolina. She was born July 17, 1919 to the late Mollie Whitaker in the Boykin Section of Sumter County, South Carolina. As a child, Hester attended Rafting Creek School of Sumter County, where her favorite teacher was Mrs. May Wright.

She relocated to Columbia with her ailing mother whom she took care of for many years until her death. She had a long career as a domestic worker for families at a boarding home. Her last place of employment was at The Capital Cabana Hotel, working as a kitchen aide. Hess loved to watch everything from her kitchen and bedroom windows. Her favorite foods were fish and cheese, and oh boy, did she love coffee! The joy of her life was Buster Ray whom she called “My Buster”.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Buster; mother, Mollie Whitaker; daughters, Mollie and Mary; first cousins: Lillie Mae Edwards, Richmond Crim, Alice Parker; friends: Roseatta Davis, Mrs. Shealy, Mary Robinson, and Jessie Bell Hunter.

Left to cherish her fond memories are her grandsons: Arthur and Jeffery Portee both of Columbia, SC; Harry Womack of Sumter, SC; Richard Portee of New Jersey, James Portee of Rembert, SC; granddaughters, Glory Portee of Rembert, SC, Linder Mickens of Sumter, SC; Mollie’s grandchildrenin in PA; cousins: Juanita Osborne, Rosa Lee Osborne of Rembert, SC, Teddie Osborne of Columbia, SC, Sonny and Doretha Edwards both of Charlotte, NC, Dorothy Blume, Christine Lawson; goddaughter, JoAnn B. Faust and family all of Columbia, SC, and a host of other loving relatives and friends.