The daughter of Elmer Carl and Eula Belle Kincaid Nix, was born August 6, 1938, in Ethridge, Tennessee. Her parents owned the local telephone company, and she tended the switchboard with her parents from 5th grade through high school. She was the Valedictorian of Lawrence County High School and graduated Lipscomb University, in 1959. She attended New York School of Interior Design and came to LaGrange in 1960 with her husband H. Louis Lester Jr. And worked in the family business, The Mill Store, until retirement in 1994.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Eugene Nix and Joe Nix.
Mrs. Lester was a founding member of the Broad St. Church of Christ and Northside Church of Christ. She loved her church family and taught Sunday school and Ladies Bible classes. She enjoyed singing with the church group at local assisted living facilities for many years.
She was a long time (63 yrs.) member of the Pine Needle Garden Club, the Middle Ga. Council of Flower Show Judges, North Ga. Council of Flower Show Judges, a Life member of The Garden Club of Ga., Inc. and Life Member of the Deep South Region National Garden Clubs, Inc. She was a Landscape Design Consultant and a National Garden Clubs Master Flower Show Judge.
Betty was active in the LaGrange Chapter of DAR and held the office of Regent for six years. She enjoyed being in the LaGrange Jr. Woman’s Club and LaGrange Woman’s club. She was an avid Bridge and Mah Jongg player, enjoying the various groups with whom she played.
A member of the Civic Chorale and Bel Canto singing groups, she and her husband also enjoyed participating in the local Lyric Theater production of “The Music Man”.
Nana was a loving mother, who treasured her husband, children, and grandchildren above all else. She is survived by her husband, Howard Louis Lester, Jr., children: Emily (Stephen) Cahnmann of New York City, Howard III of LaGrange, and Joe (Melissa) of Birmingham, AL. Grandchildren: Hans Cahnmann; Howard Lester IV, Reese Lester, Carson (Mallory) Lester, Christian (Megan) Lester, Mary Ashley Lester, and Emma Lester, great grandson Westley Hugh Lester. Other: Niece Rebekah Nix, Manitou Springs, CO., Nephews Thomas Nix, Marietta GA., Carl Nix, Sulphur Springs, TX., John Nix, Sequim, WA, and her beloved cousin Joan Childress, Ethridge, TN.
The Gathering of Family and Friends will be on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at the funeral home. The Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00am, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, the family graciously requests that donations be made to The Harmony House, PO Box 2925
LaGrange, GA 30241 in memory of Betty N. Lester.
Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.
