Thomas County Georgia - Biography - PAUL EDWIN LESTER 1888 - 1950 ********************************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ********************************************************************************************** This file contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Charlene Parker" Sep 2002 PAUL EDWIN LESTER Paul Edwin Lester was born April 15, 1888, a son of William Jackson Lester and Margaret Elizabeth Wellborn Lester. He was reared on a farm near Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia, being one of a family of eight children, five girls and three boys. He knew the joys as well as the trials of a farmer boy. His education in his early years was such as could be had in those days in the county schools, which ran usually for five or six months during the year. One teacher, seven grades, and sometimes as many as forty or fifty 'scholars', comprised the schools of those days which he attended. At the age of 17, or in the fall of 1905, he entered Locust Grove Institute at Locust Grove, Georgia, where he remained for two years. In the fall of 1907 he entered Mercer University, where he graduated with an A. B. Degree in June 1912. In the fall of 1917 he went to Louisville, Ky., where he entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and was in Kentucky until the summer of 1919, when he returned to the State of Georgia to accept the pastorate of the Tippettville Baptist Church, and the Principalship of the Tippettville School. It was about 1903 or when he was about fifteen years old, that the boy, Paul came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. Attendance at Sunday Schools held at two different school houses, Union Hall and Fairview, attendance at preaching services at Conyers three and a half miles away, where his father and mother were members, an interest in reading the Scriptures for himself, all these, of course, stretching over a period of several years, are believed by him to have led to his conversion. In the summer of 1903 he united with the Conyers Baptist Church, and was buried in baptism by the Rev. B. J. W. Graham at that time Pastor of the Church. Thoughts of the Gospel ministry as a life work were almost simultaneous with his conversion. It was because the Conyers Church and its Pastor, Dr. Graham, saw evidences of the leadings of the Holy Spirit toward the ministry of Christ as a life calling, that they became instrumental in having him entered as a student at Locust Grove Institute in the fall of 1905, and were helpful in causing him to continue his studies there and at Mercer. It was in June, 1908 that the Mercer student, Paul Lester, was called to ordination by the Hazel Street Mission, an arm of the Tattnall Square Baptist Church, Macon. During the summer and fall of 1908 he served the Hazel Street Church as its Pastor. While a student at Mercer, and for some four and a half years following he served various country churches, located in Dooly, Morgan and Rockdale Counties. While a student at the Seminary in Louisville, Ky., he became Pastor of the Baptist Churches at Cropper and Christiansburg, Ky. for half time each, and served these until he came back to Georgia in 1919. During the period of 1919 to 1922 he served the Tippettville Church, Dooly County for one year; then the Apalachee and Sandy Creek Churches in Morgan County, also the Church of Ocilla, and was there for one year. From Ocilla he went to the Pastorate of the Boston Baptist church for full time, and remained at Boston for four years, lacking one month. In October, 1927 he accepted the call of the Edison and Enterprise Churches, Bethel Association, and has remained with these churches until the writing of this sketch. Brother Lester is quiet and unassuming, methodical in his work and a logical, forceful speaker and an experienced and successful pastor. His churches are prosperous and appreciative of him and his work. He is fearless as a preacher and courteous in his churches and a strong believer in the power and saving grace of the Gospel he preaches. Mr. Lester has been twice married. The first time to Miss Ora Finch of Greene County, Georgia. Four children were born to this union. In 1924, while living at Boston, this wife died. In October, 1925, he was again married, this time to Miss Myrtis Peters of Monroe, Georgia. One child has come to this union. 1930 Calhoun County Georgia Edison page 86 211- Lester, Paul E. 41 m head Ga Ga Ga minister baptist church Myrtle 32 f wife Ga Ga Ga Paul Early 17 m son Ga Ga Ga Annie ?? 14 f dau Ga Ga GA Earl 11 m son KY Ga Ga M??? 7 f dau Ga Ga Ga Jimmie 1 4/12 m son Ga Ga GA 1920 Dooly County Georgia ed 37 sheet 20 390 Lester, Paul 30 head m Ga GA GA Teacher Ora 30 wife f Ga Ga Ga Paul 7 son m Ga Ga Ga Annie 5 dau f Ga Ga Ga Earl 1 3/12 son m ?? Ga Ga Georgia Death Index Name: Paul E Lester Death Date: 15 Jun 1950 Race: W Gender: M County of Death: ?? Certificate: ?? Age: 62 years County of Residence: Brooks Name: Lester Paul Death Date: 02 Jul 1952 Race: W Gender: M County of Death: Early Certificate: 15482 Age: 46 years County of Residence: Early Name: Mrs. P. E. Lester Death Date: 08 Jan 1925 Gender: County of Death: Thomas Certificate: 2696-G