Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on July 25, 2019, at St. James United Methodist Church in Montgomery, with funeral services to follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at Greenwood Cemetery.
Lester was born in Montgomery, AL, to Lester K. Henderson, Sr., and Frances Cook Henderson on October 16, 1939. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1958. He married Catherine Christianne Ashton on August 19, 1961, in Brewton, AL. He attended Huntingdon College as well as the University of Wisconsin School of Bank Administration. After getting his first job at the age of eight, he worked for Central Bank of the South for 26 years, working his way up to President. After retiring from the banking industry in 1992, he began his second career working with his best friend at Industrial Specialty Company Inc., finally retiring for good in 2004.
He served in the United States Army National Guard. He was involved in many community organizations, serving on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery Zoo, Brantwood Children’s Home, as well as working with Partners in Education. He served as president of the local chapters of the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. He received the 1991 Executive of the Year Award from Professional Secretaries International.
Lester’s interests included a passion for baseball, Alabama football, as well as a huge heart for animals. He played baseball at Robert E. Lee High School, as well as in many summer leagues, including a stint on a Detroit Tigers farm team. He spent many Saturdays in Tuscaloosa and all over the South following Bear Bryant and his boys, taking friends and family along for tail-gating and instilling a love of Alabama football in his children. He also enjoyed animals, owning (or being owned by) many cats and dogs. He was a dedicated member of St. James United Methodist Church for 20 years, serving in many capacities ranging from making coffee to counting tithes and offerings.
Lester is preceded in death by his mother and father, as well as his father- and mother-in-law, Frank and Jessie Mae Ashton.
Lester is survived by his wife of 58 years, Chris; children Leigh Werner, Aimee LaChapelle (Tim), Lester K. Henderson III (Karen), and Jessica Terry (Russell); brother Phillip Henderson (Becky); sisters Lauren Henderson and Cheryl Harrell (Robert); grandchildren Nicholas Werner, Jacob Werner, Anna Young (Darryl), Rebecca LaChapelle, Madelene Henderson, Dewey Terry, Ashton Terry, and Mary-Margaret Henderson; one great-granddaughter Brailyn Werner.
Pallbearers will be Tim LaChapelle, Russell Terry, Nicholas Werner, Jacob Werner, Darryl Young and Dewey Terry. Honorary pallbearers will be Ken Kranzusch, Garnett Turner, Phillip Henderson, and Mac McKee.
Memorials may be given to Montgomery Cancer Center or St. James United Methodist Church. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the Montgomery Cancer Center, Amedisys Hospice, and our pastors and brothers and sisters in Christ at St. James United Methodist Church.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WhiteChapel-GreenwoodFH.com for the Henderson family.
