Laverne S. Lester

LaVerne Lester, 73 of Narrows went home to be with the Lord Monday, April 5th, 2010 at Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital in Pearisburg after a long battle with illness. She was born at Mayberry, West Virginia on June 3rd, 1936 and was the daughter of the late Harry Maynard Surratt and Laura Belle Davis Stephens. In addition to her mother and father, she was preceded in death by a brother, Dickie Surratt. She was a former employee of Radford Army Ammunition Plant where she worked as a secretary, and as a bookkeeper for the sewing factory in Narrows. She'll be best remembered as a staunch advocate of Narrows residents, a strong voice for the welfare of her community. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she will be dearly missed by her family and all who knew her. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Marvin (Buck) Lester, Jr.; two sons, Blake Lester and wife Joy, and Cliff Lester, both of Narrows; three daughters, Lynette Lawson and husband Michael of Christiansburg, Regena Soon and husband Andrew of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Alesia Collins and husband Larry of Narrows; nine grandchildren, Allison Lester, Nalani, Kekona, Elijah, ReAnn, Nathan, and Micah Soon, Ryan and Aaron Collins; one great-granddaughter, Hannah Lester; a brother, Mickey Surratt and wife Edith Mae of Fincastle; three sisters, Lucille Pruett, Minnie Belle Warner, and Fran Caldwell and husband Henry, all of Narrows; several nieces, nephews and cousins, and many special friends. A graveside service will be held Thursday, April 8th, 2010 at 2 PM at Fairview Cemetery in Narrows with Pastor Shahn Wilburn officiating. The family will receive friends at Riffe's Funeral Service in Narrows Wednesday from 6 to 8 PM. The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider VFW Post #6000 of Narrows. Online condolence messages to the family can be sent to www.riffes.com.