Barbara J. Lester of Port Charlotte, Florida was born October 2, 1932 in Brunswick County Virginia, in the town of Callaville, to the late Willie M. Cooper and Mary Gertrude Trotter Cooper. She departed this life May 6, 2010 at Signature Healthcare of Port Charlotte Florida.
She was educated in the Brunswick County Virginia public school system. She then moved to Brooklyn New York to find work, and shortly thereafter she moved to Queens New York where she worked as a domestic chef. It was there she met and married Lester Kears who preceded her in death. There were no children born to their union. She later moved to Port Charlotte Florida where she passed away.
Her family consisted of three sisters, Agnes Marie Wallace of Braddock Pennsylvania who preceded her in death; Wilma Walters of Braddock Pennsylvania and Katherine Wynn of Port Charlotte Florida; three brothers, Arthur J. Cooper of Ettrick Virginia who preceded her in death, Willie M. Cooper of Kenbridge Virginia and Alvin L. Cooper of Lake Mary Florida; two sisters in law, Gladys C. Cooper of Lake Mary Florida and Gertrude Cooper of Kenbridge Virginia; Willie Wynn, her favorite nephew who was always there for her, helping her with the many things that she could not do for herself; and a host of nieces, other nephews, cousins and friends.