Clarke-Fulton County GaArchives Obituaries.....Lester, Tolbert Newton July 15, 1928
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Meredith Clapper http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002801 November 19, 2013, 8:52 am

Banner-Herald 30 July 1928 p 3
In Memoriam-Tolbert N. Lester

Mr. Tolbert N. Lester, an old and prominent citizen of Clarke county, died in 
Atlanta July 15th at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Susie Pate. 

The funeral services were held at Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist church in this 
county, of which church he had been a faithful and zealous member for fifty 
years.  The funeral services were conducted by Elders Cook and Stewart; the 
sermon of Rev. Cook and inspirational and heart-moving to the large crowd of 
friends and relatives there assembled.  The interment was at the family cemetery 
near Cleveland on S. A. L. Railroad, where his parents and other kindred had 
been buried.

Mr. Lester was born in this county, at the home place where he was buried, on 
January 30th 1839, so he had reached the ripe old age of 89 years.  His mind 
power seems not to have abated; the physical man as a machine had just run down-
but the mind and Spirit were still alert.  He was the youngest of sixteen 
children and the son of Lewis Lester and Elizabeth Patman Lester.  Rev. William 
A. Patman of this county, a man of great powers of intellect and soul, was his 
uncle.

Mr. Lester enlisted in one of the first Companies that left this county in the 
War of the Sixties.  He volunteered in Company C, 44th Regiment, Georgia 
Volunteers.  Dr. Sam P. Lumpkin was his first captain; Captain W. F. B. Havgood, 
the second.  This regiment was part of Dole's Brigade.  He did faithful and 
valiant service until he was captured along with most of his brigade at 
Spotsylvania Court House the 10th of May, 1864.  He had been previously severely 
wounded at Chancellorsville, the 3rd of May 1863-the day and battle that 
Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded.  After capture he remained in Federal 
prison until the end of hostilities.

For years he was one of the most successful farmers in this county-and to his 
credit be it said that he held on to every acre of the large farm he owned 
except the parts of the place that he gave off to his daughters as they married.  
He was a good business man-kept out of debt all the days of his life.  He was 
married three times-his first wife was Miss Martha V. Daniell; second was Miss 
Martha C. Hinton, and his third was Miss Dora Kent-the last one having died 
about six years ago. 

By the first marriage, he has three daughters surviving-Mrs. Emma T. Epps, widow 
of Pat Epps of Madison, Ga.; Mrs. Elizabeth A. McLeroy, wife of James L. McLeroy 
of Athens; and Mrs. Susan M. Pate of Atlanta; there are two deceased daughters 
by this marriage who each left three children-Mrs. Francina Sheats and Mrs. 
Josephine Epps.  By the second marriage there are three children surviving, Mrs. 
Ruby L. Taylor of Atlanta; W. Pat Lester of New York City, and Charles B. Lester 
of Jackson county.

Mr. Lester was the kindliest of men.  He had a kind word and a smile for every 
one; the smile was natural-for that reason it never "wore off" but remained with 
him to the end.  His face maintained a youthful appearance to the last-due to 
the kindness and gentleness within. 

He was a peace-loving man.  I do not believe he ever had a quarrel of difficulty 
with any man.  He was a man of great heart; he was in truth a neighbor and a 
good one to all whom he met with in life; faithful as a friend; true and 
honorable in all his dealings.  He was an honest man in the strictest and "old 
time" meaning of honesty.  He fought the good fight, he kept the faith, and 
faith with him was based upon experience; faith in God that he had worked out in 
life and found for himself and not another for him. 

He died as he had lived, at peace with his God and with all mankind.  He is 
survived by over one hundred descendants-what a priceless legacy is his life and 
memory to them-a benediction and blessing. 
                                                                                    
                                                              
A Friend

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