Dr. Nina Marie Mack Lester was born October 16, 1922 in Fort Davis, Alabama to Carrie Belle Thompson and Jim Garner. She was raised by her Aunt Pearl A. Peoples, who preceded her in death. She was the eldest of five sisters; among them were; Thelma Wasson, Vera Lester, Aretha Watkins, Anna Henderson and Juanita Taylor and two brothers, Clifford Fox and Dr. Homer James Fox. Nina married Albert Eggleston Mack in 1949 and they had four children; Nina Zaneta Mack Bryant, Adlai Eggleston Mack, Valinda Marie Mack Williams and Regina Agatha Mack Jones.
She was baptized at a young age, accepted Christ and joined church and was an organist, choir member and Deaconess at 10 years old in Blairsville, Pennsylvania. She was an active member of Plymouth United Church of Christ for more than 60 years. She was a woman of strong and unwavering faith and moral values.
Nina Lester was a graduate of Wayne State University. After that she became a Secretary for the Detroit Branch of the Pittsburgh Courier Newspaper. She became a homemaker and stayed at home the first five years. As economic pressures increased she returned to the job market and quickly arose to the position of General Manager of the Pittsburgh Courier. History books record that Nina Mack was the first Black Woman to be the General Manager of a major weekly newspaper if not the first woman also. In this prestigious position, she had to rub shoulders with many rich people, as well as the poor, finding it just as easy to associate with both. Later on in life she went on to write for Ford Motor World Newspaper. She assisted Eugene Lester in his photography business for weddings and Detroit Newspapers. She then worked for Allied Garden Supermarket Store Chain and for Thompson Funeral Home writing obituaries for 15 years. She received an honorary doctorate from Wayne State University in Humanities, while participating in more than 18 community organizations. She became a television talk show host in Detroit. She married Eugene Austin Lester, Sr. in 1970. To this union were Eugene Jr., Charles and Reginald Lester. They then became a joyful family of six. She helped rear her grandsons, Joel H. Bryant, Jr. and Warren A. Bryant.
Nina volunteered for numerous organizations; some of them include: United Negro College Fund, NAACP, Booker T. Washington Business Association, March of Dimes, Top Ladies of Distinction, Shaw College, Corporation for Artistic Development, Co-Ette and Debutante Clubs, United Church of Christ Association, Ebony Fashion Fair and Raising Aspirations for Youth Association. She was featured in publications, Who’s Who in America and Untold Tales of Unsung Heroes of African American History, was the television Talk Show Host of “Talk of The Town” on television station 62 W.G.P.R. Nina was honored and received more than 70 awards from Congress, The Senate, Mayor’s Office, City Council and numerous community organizations and churches and awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the poor.
She traveled throughout the world with her husband Eugene Lester. She was one of the few parents that came regularly to Parent Teachers Association Meetings and diligently to her children’s activities and events. She took her children regularly to poor persons homes to share meals with them on Sunday’s at their houses. She raised millions of dollars for charities and paid tuition for a sibling and many youth to attend college. She was a very fast runner and loved to play games with her husband, children and grandchildren.
She went home to be with the Lord at 12:30 am January 15, 2016. Her husband Albert Eggleston Mack and her husband Eugene Lester Sr. and her daughter Nina Zaneta Mack Bryant preceded her in death. She is survived her sons Eugene Lester (Audrey), Charles Lester, Reginald Lester (Valerie) and Adlai Mack (Sandra) and her daughters Valinda Mack Williams and Regina Mack Jones (Victor), two sisters, Aretha Watkins and Anna Henderson, forty grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends.
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