Venis Lucille Bledsoe Lester

Venis “Lucille” Lester, age 90, of Jesse, took her heavenly flight Thursday May 5, 2016 at Bowers Hospice House in Beckley from complications of Alzheimer’s, with her family by her side. Born March 9, 1926 in Mercer County, she was the daughter of the late Daniel Newton Bledsoe and Bertha Mae McCarty Bledsoe. Lucille was devout Christian and spent her days by her husband’s side as he pastored many churches. She was a member of the Mt Carmel Freewill Baptist Church of Sabine. Lucille faithfully attended church as long as her health permitted. She was active with the ladies aid and enjoyed being in the kitchen making fried apple pies. Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, Pastor Roy Lee Lester Sr. on June 28, 2004; infant daughter Betty Ann; siblings, Willie Lee Bledsoe, Ruby Mae Ickes, Mary Drucilla “ Dressie” Daniel, Helen Fanny Allen, Celia Leona Baker, Arthur Junior Bledsoe, Francis Lorraine Bailey, Ralph Daniel Bledsoe, John Henry Bledsoe, Kenneth Odell Bledsoe, Robert Earl Bledsoe and Bertha Melvinia Bledsoe. Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Dr. Roy Lee Lester Jr. and his wife Ernestine of Kingsport TN, Donna Sue Dixon and her husband Roy Lee of Jesse, Dennis Malcolm Lester and his wife Tracy of Iron Station NC; grandsons, Joshua Andrew Lester and his wife Melanie of Duffield, VA and Robert Dale “Bobby” Lester and his girlfriend Julie Ritter of Wilmington, NC; great grandchildren, Andrew Carter Lester and Mattie Alexis Lester of Duffield VA.: sisters in law, Gladys Carothers and her husband Bob and Amanda Toler and her husband Bob, both of Keyrock; brother in law, Calvin Lester of Raleigh County. The family would like express a special thanks to caregivers, Diana “Sissie” Altizer, Patricia O’Neal and the staff of the Bowers Hospice House.