Search by Name

William Lester Obituary

VALDOSTA, Ga. - William McMorris Lester, Jr., of Valdosta died Tuesday, February 21, 2013 at home. He was born in Augusta, GA, November 24, 1927 to the late William McMorris Lester, Sr. and Elizabeth Miles Lester. Mr. Lester was a member of Park Avenue Methodist Church. He attended public schools in Augusta and completed high school in Washington, D.C. After graduating from The Citadel, Charleston, SC, he was employed by Trust Company of Georgia, Atlanta. In 1957 Mr. Lester moved with his wife, Bobbie, and his family, to establish the Valdosta Federal Savings and Loan Association. Through merges this became the Valdosta office of Branch Bank & Trust (BB&T). He served as local President of BB&T until retirement in 1993. Mr. Lester is survived by his wife Bobbie Wells Lester of 59 years, four children, Catherine Lester Perry and her husband Charles of Conyers, GA, Cheryl Lester Tunkle and her husband Richard of Rabun Gap, GA, William Miles Lester and his wife Cindy of Auburn, Alabama, William McMorris (Tripp) Lester, III, of Valdosta. Ten grandchildren survive Mr. Lester: Lisa Perry Mosely and Joanna Perry Legg; Sarah Catherine Tunkle and Caroline Rebecca Tunkle; Ashley Elizabeth Lester, Elizabeth Connely Lester, Catherine Ansley Lester, and William Miles Lester, Jr.; William McMorris Lester, IV, and John Wells Lester. Great- grandchildren surviving are Kent and Kyle Mosely, and Grayson and Aiden Legg. Other survivors include brother, James Luther Lester and wife Gwen, of Augusta; two nephews, Jimmy and Frank Lester; a special cousin, Marcus Lester and wife Rachel of Newberry, SC; and sister-in-law, Nancy Wells. William M. Lester left behind an undeniable mark on the Valdosta community through his over 50 years of service in various organizations and clubs. For over 20 years, Mr. Lester served on the board of the Valdosta- Lowdes County Hospital Authority; he was President of United Way and President of the Valdosta Country Club. He served as a member of the Valdosta Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the University of Georgia Gridiron Society. An avid fisherman and hunter, Mr. Lester was a member of the Ocean Pond Fishing Club and of the East Side Fishing Camp in Darien, GA which included annual duck hunting trips to nearby Fort Barrington. He didn't stop there as he forged lifelong friendships as a member of the former Mafia Supper Group, the Tuesday Morning Smith Hospital Breakfast, and the 12 Old Men and their monthly Ocean Pond meetings. His love of golf stemmed from his childhood spent in Augusta with Augusta National at his back door, and evolved into his over forty years of bringing friends to his home for The Masters. One friend in particular was his future wife, Bobbie, whom he flew in for a tour of Augusta, a first meeting of his parents, and a final day at the Masters. Bill never met a stranger. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, and he will be remembered by many and missed by all. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, February 22, 2013, in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with burial to follow in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Rev. Hale Bishop and Rev. V. L. Daughtery will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dasher Heart Center at South Georgia Medical Center, P.O. Box 1727, Valdosta, GA 31603. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.

Published by The Augusta Chronicle on Feb. 22, 2013.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for William Lester

Not sure what to say?





0 Entries

Be the first to post a memory or condolences.

Make a Donation
in William Lester's name

Memorial Events
for William Lester

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support William's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor William Lester's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more