Billy Leon Lester

Childersburg, AL - Billy Leon Lester, 88, of Childersburg, went to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ on Tuesday, June 6, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer. Billy was born in Tallapoosa County and graduated from Dadeville High school. During the Korean War Billy served in the US Army doing border duty in Germany. Upon returning home he served many years in the National Guard and was a member of the American Legion in Sylacauga and Childersburg. He spent many years attending monthly VA Board meetings advocating for better care for Veterans in VA Nursing Homes. Billy worked for Beaunit Mills before moving to Kimberly Clark Papermill where he retired after 34 years. Community was always important to Billy. He served 8 years on the Childersburg City Council and was a long time member of the Termites Woodworking group that built handicap ramps around the city. Billy loved to travel and was blessed to enjoy taking many trips with his wife, daughters and grandchildren. He would spend hours pulling his girls and their friends behind his fishing boat, teaching them to water ski.

Billy is preceded in death by his father, Furman Lester and his mother and stepfather, Dora and Festus Davis; brothers, Coy Patterson and Balford Duffey; sisters, Marie Spivey and Bennie Sue Ezekiel. Billy is survived by his wife of 64 years, Margaret Walker Lester; daughters, Dianne Newman and Pam Smith (Howard); grandchildren, Brian Newman (April), Adam Newman (Carlie), Allison Storey Todd (Brandon), Valerie Storey Cockerham (Romairo), and Brian (Bo) Smith (Hannah); great grandchildren, Chase Newman, Wyatt Newman, Lane Pate, Gunner Newman, Chloe Cockerham, Parker Grace Newman, Briggs Todd, EJ Newman, Henlie Newman, Bowman Todd, Haylen Newman, Axell Newman, Reagan Todd, and Mia Cockerham.

Pallbearers will be Brian Newman, Adam Newman, Bo Smith, Romairo Cockerham, Brandon Todd, Chase Newman, Wyatt Newman and Lane Pate.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to:

First Baptist Church Childersburg

200 8th Avenue SW

Childersburg, AL 35044

Or

Comfort Care Hospice

2048 Martin Street South

Pell City, AL 35128

A visitation for Billy will be Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Childersburg followed by the funeral service with Bro. Skip Parvin officiating. Burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery in Childersburg. AL.

Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/sylacauga-al/radney-smith-funeral-home/8516.

Radney-Smith Funeral Home in Sylacauga, AL will direct the services.