A Celebration of Life honoring Deacon Lester will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 12:00 noon at the Dooly County High School Gymnasium, located at 715 N. 3rd Street, Vienna, Georgia 31092.

Following the service, interment will take place at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church Cemetery, 1129 Peaceful Road, Pinehurst, Georgia 31070.

Deacon John Wesley Lester was born on May 4, 1942, to the parentage of Deacon Edgar Laster, Jr., and Sister Eunice Jordan in Dooly County, Georgia.

On Thursday, July 16, 2026, God called him from labor to rest at his residence, surrounded by his family.

He attended Baker Field Elementary School and the Vienna High and Industrial School, graduating in 1962. After graduating high school, he attended the Nashville School majoring in business. He attended the Fort Valley State College (university) and was a member of ROTC. He also attended Albany Technical School, majoring in drafting.

He worked at Suns Manufacturing in Vienna, Georgia, Unadilla Manufacturing in Unadilla, Georgia, as a supervisor, Farmers Furniture Co., Cordele and Ashburn, Georgia, as credit manager where he retired. He was the first African American to be elected as city councilman in Vienna, Georgia.

At an early age, he joined the Free Providence Baptist Church where he became a deacon, was a Sunday School teacher, chairman of the Deacon Board, and sang in the senior choir. He had a great love for fishing.

He leaves many cherished memories to his beloved wife of 62 years, Mrs. Earlene Coes Lester; children, Wesley Lester, Teia Lester of Vienna, Georgia, Kimberly Lester of Hoschton, Georgia; bonus son, Kency K. Coes of San Diego, California; two devoted granchildren whom he loved dearly, Kabron Kortez Wiggins and Petty Officer Second Class Ta’Zsa Tianee Wiggins of Vienna, Georgia; sisters, Mrs. Annie Smith of Vienna, Georgia, Mrs. Carolyn (Willie Clark) of Winter Haven, Florida, Gwendolyn (Wallace Relaford) of Cordele, Georgia, Vivian Fullwood of Knoxville, Tennessee, Beverlyn Brown of Cordele, GA, Vicky (Alvin Haynes) of Jacksonville, Florida; brother, Edgar Lester III of Columbus, Georgia; two bonus sisters, Bridgett Thompson and Ruby Holdon; stepmother, Mrs. Bernice Laster of Cordele, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, many sorrowing friends, Willie Brown, Gary Killings, Hendley Bryant, Jr., Deborah Smith, and the Drayton Community.

He was preceded in death by his mother; father; and a brother, Sheyron Lester.