Mr. Jimmy Lester

January 28, 1946 - February 3, 2016

Mr. James L. “Jimmy” Lester, III age 70 of Rockmart, Georgia passed away Wednesday, February 3, 2016. Mr. Lester was born January 28, 1946 in Floyd County, son of the late Raymond Reece Lester and the late Nell Gore Lester. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Stephanie Dawn Lester. He was a graduate of the Rockmart High School Class of 1964 and a 1968 graduate of the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Mr. Lester was a third generation owner of J. L. Lester & Son Incorporated and a past president of the Georgia Wholesale Grocery Association. Jimmy was a faithful member and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Rockmart for over 50 years. He was a past chairman of the deacon board, served as Sunday School Superintendent and taught a Sunday School Class for many years in the youth department and was presently the teacher of the Adult 3 Men’s Class. He was a longtime member and past president of the Rockmart Kiwanis Club and served as a Division Lieutenant Governor for the Georgia Kiwanis Club and was a past member of the Rockmart Jaycees. Jimmy was a charter board member of the United Bank and Trust where he served as chairman of the board and also served as a board member for the Gainesville Bank and Trust. Mr. Lester was a former board member of Shorter College, former board member and past chairman of the Northwest Georgia Technical College and a member of the Board of Visitors for Darlington School. He was a board member for the Murphy Harpst Home, Boy Scouts of America, Rockmart Development Authority and member and past president of the Rockmart Chamber of Commerce. Jimmy was also a member of the Republican Party. Jimmy was a wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather and role model for all his family but most of all he was a devoted Christian and Sunday School teacher. He was a person who never turned a job down he was asked to do whether he had the time or not. He loved life to the fullest and had so many friends. Survivors include his wife, Beth Fannin Lester of Rockmart to whom he married in October 1964; two sons, Luke Lester and his wife Sandy of Cartersville and Chris Lester of Rockmart; daughter, Wendi Lester Gibbs of Rockmart; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Ramonda and Tom Jackson of Taylors, South Carolina and Gloria and Tony Adams of Rockmart; six grandchildren, Grace Lester, Hattie James Lester, Stephen Gibbs, Seth Gibbs, Victoria Lauren Lester Haygood and Lucas Lester; one great-grandson, Christopher Benton Haygood. Funeral services for Mr. Lester will be held on Monday, February 8th at 12 Noon in the First Baptist Church Sanctuary with Dr. Greg Thompson and Rev. David Turner officiating. Private family interment services will follow in the family lot of Rose Hill Cemetery. Mr. Lester will lie in state in the Great Room of the First Baptist Church prior to the service from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour. The following gentlemen have been asked to serve as pallbearers: Ronald Brackett, Ron Fancher, Tommy Tarbush, Glenn Campbell, Allen Bullard, John Cavender, Mike Hester, Lee Burch, Roy Miller, Dr. Harry Harris, Larry Meeks, State Rep. Trey Kelley and State Senator Bill Heath. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Rockmart Kiwanis Club, First Baptist Church Adult 3 Sunday School Class and First Baptist Church Deacons. The family will receive friends on Sunday, February 7th in the Great Room of the First Baptist Church from 12 Noon until 3:00 p.m. Floral donations will be accepted or those wishing to do so, may make memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church, Whole Heart Building Fund, P. O. Box 388, Rockmart, GA 30153 in memory of Mr. Lester. Freeman Harris Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral services for Mr. James L. “Jimmy” Lester, III.