Ernestine Lester

Ernestine Kay Carter Lester, age 73, of Duffield, Virginia, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 6, 2026, at Ridgecrest Manor following complications from a recent stroke.

She was born May 1, 1952, in Kingsport, Tennessee, to the late Kyle Isaac Carter and Polly Bernice Quillen Carter. Ernestine attended Rye Cove High School in Duffield, Virginia, graduating in 1970. During her school years she was active in the 4-H Club, where her love for education first began to grow. She later attended Berea College and graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. While at Berea College she met her future husband, Roy Lee Lester Jr, while he was visiting his sister Donna “Sue” Lester - and the rest, as they say, is history.

At a young age Ernestine accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She and her husband, Roy Lee, dedicated their lives to ministry beginning in 1974. She was the apple of his eye and the perfect companion for the young pastor. Faithfully serving alongside him, she supported his ministry as he pastored churches in Virginia, West Virginia, Michigan, and Tennessee.

Ernestine was a gifted and talented musician. She served as a pianist in several churches, playing both by ear and reading shape notes. She loved to sing and was part of the group “By Grace” with dear friends from Doran Addition Free Will Baptist Church. Though she was modest about her talents, she also played the guitar and harmonica. Throughout her life she faithfully served in children’s ministries and ladies’ auxiliaries in the churches where they ministered. She possessed a deep knowledge of the Bible—not only a head knowledge but also a heart knowledge. She lived what she believed, bore good fruit, and has laid up many treasures in Heaven. She wore many hats throughout the years working as a school teacher, secretary, and finally a debt collector at CitiBank, where she retired. She was a faithful member of Thomas Village Baptist Church in Duffield, Virginia.

Mrs. Ernie, as so many knew her, loved others deeply, loved her family, and loved Jesus above all. Among those she cherished most were her two precious grandchildren, Andrew Carter Lester and Mattie Alexa Lester. Anyone who knew her knew about her grandbabies—she was the best Mamaw ever.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 43 years, Roy Lee Lester Jr.; her brother, Kyle Isaac Carter Jr.; her brother-in-law, Phillip Enix; and her parents-in-law, Roy Lee Lester Sr. and Venis Lucille Bledsoe Lester.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Joshua Andrew Lester and wife Melanie Joy Lester of Duffield, Virginia; two extraordinary grandchildren, Andrew Carter Lester and Mattie Alexa Lester of Duffield, Virginia; her sister, Teresa Enix of Haymarket, Virginia; niece, Thea LaPorte and husband Michael of Gainesville, Virginia; grandniece, Devon Vickery of Gainesville, Virginia; sister-in-law, Jenny Carter of Duffield, Virginia; niece, Kayla Carter of Duffield, Virginia; sister-in-law, Donna “Sue” Dixon and husband Roy of Jesse, West Virginia; brother-in-law, Dennis Lester and wife Tracy of Gastonia, North Carolina; nephew, Bobby Lester and Julie Ritter of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and niece, Holly Steiss and husband Ryan of Statesville, North Carolina.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Monday, March 9, 2026, at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home in Kingsport. The funeral service will follow at 6:00 PM with Brother Bryan Gunter officiating.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday at 12:00 PM at East Lawn Memorial Park. There will be no procession; those attending are asked to meet at the cemetery at noon.

Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Thomas Village Baptist Church and Doran Addition Free Will Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 3217, Kingsport, TN 37664.

Mom, I’ll see you at the house