James Hester (Troy Maxson)James L. Hester's love for the theater began at an early age under the direction of the late Dwight Woods and Clark Nesbitt while a member of the Phillis Wheatley Repertory Theater. Throughout his young life he’s worked in various areas of ministry as Minister of Music and the performing arts to include his performance as Reverend Purlie in the stage production of “Purlie”. He also has appeared in the lead roles of “Don’t Give Up On Your Dream”, “Saying Loud on Broadway,” and “Till Victory Is Won” as the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Seen at Centre Stage as Bishop in "Through The Night"," Mister in "The Color Purple," and stage and film " A New Pair of Shoes.  He is the owner of The Wholy Smoke Family Restaurant of Mauldin and Wholy Smoke Mobile.