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. Tags: 1950
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