"I just can't even think about, you know, her being gone is hard, but she was an amazing person, just amazing," said Chas Warren, bar manager at Babes of Carytown.

Warren shared his memories of Hester, trying to put into words the impactful legacy an icon in Richmond's LGBTQ+ community leaves behind.

"It's just heartbreaking. You never she's such a strong person that you always thought that she would be here. You couldn't imagine life without her, sort of thing, and now we have to navigate how to live without her," Warren said.

The foundation of Hester's legacy was as the owner of Babes of Carytown. Founded in 1978, it is one of the oldest lesbian bars in the country.

"She wanted you to feel like you were at home when you came through those doors, no matter how you dressed, who you lov

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