Washington County, Virginia, Obituaries: Mary Lester Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bristol Herald Courier http://www.bristolnews.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=TRI/Page/TRI_FrontPage ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bristol Herald Courier Sunday, March 16, 2003 Mary Lester GLADE SPRING -- Mrs. Mary Ethel Ratliff Lester, 95, died Saturday, March 15, 2003, at Valley Healthcare Center in Chilhowie. Mrs. Lester was born in Glade Spring on April 9, 1907, to the late William Franklin and Maybelle Witt Ratliff. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Lester was a lifelong Presbyterian and was currently a member of Grace Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Albert M. Lester; a son, John M. Lester; stepdaughter, Christine Lester Kennedy; stepsons, Alfred M. Lester and Robert O. Lester; five brothers; and three sisters. She is survived by two sons, Cecil and Billie Lester of Glade Spring and Harold and wife Bonnie of Meadowview; daughter, Betty Lester DeFriece of High Point, N.C.; two daughters-in-law, Shelby Price Lester of Gate City and Helen Grace Lester of Glade Spring; 15 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 16, 2003, at 6:30 p.m. at Farris Funeral Chapel. Dr. Darlene Litton will officiate. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the funeral home. A graveside committal service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Mount Rose Cemetery in Glade Spring with Rev. Timothy Bird officiating. Grandsons will be honorary pallbearers. Friends may call at the home of Cecil or Harold Lester. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 565, Glade Spring, VA 24340. Those wishing to express their condolences online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Farris Funeral Service is serving the Lester family.