Lester Williams

Lester Williams, 84, of Valdosta, passed away on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Fellowship Home Brookside. He was born in Miami, Florida on May 1, 1940, to the late Raymond Lester Williams and Kathleen (Kitty) Fink Williams. Lester grew up in Miami and moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where he graduated from high school. After high school he attended Jacksonville University. During his college days, he began working with the choir at Riverside Baptist and was a student director of the chorus. While in college, the former Carolyn Woodard, attended a service Lester was ministering in and she saw him. They soon met, dated and were married on June 21, 1964.

After Lester graduated from Jacksonville University, he served in the U.S. Army. When he got out of the Army, he attended Seminary in Louisville, KY at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he graduated with a Masters in Music Ministry in the late 1960’s. Lester and Carolyn then moved back to Jacksonville to continue his ministry at Southside Baptist as the Minister of Music. He served there nearly a decade before moving to First Baptist Church in Deland, FL. Lester served there until the mid-1980’s when he began serving at Central Baptist in Waycross, GA. He then moved to Valdosta in 1994 to serve as the Minister of Music at First Methodist Church and served there for over 20 years until his retirement in 2015.

Lester loved serving and leading others in worshiping the Lord in the churches he served at throughout the years. In addition to leading adult choirs, he led handbells, orchestras, children’s and youth choirs. Lester was a true people person, loving and caring for those he served and led, and had a wonderful sense of humor. In addition to his music, Lester loved studying God's word and working in his yard, but his greatest accomplishment was being a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather!

Lester is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Carolyn Williams, of Valdosta; son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Jill Williams, of Valdosta; daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Brent Coleman, of Vestavia Hills, AL; grandchildren, Abby Williams, Ally Williams, both of Valdosta, Sophie Coleman, of Auburn, AL, and Selah Coleman, of Vestavia Hills, AL; along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by sister and brother-in-law, Sue and Larry Padgett.

On Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 3pm, funeral services for Lester will be held at Park Avenue Church with Reverend Jimmy Towson and Reverend Thomas Mason, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery in Madison, FL. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 2-3 pm at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Park Avenue Church, 100 E Park Avenue, Valdosta, GA 31602. Online condolences and memories may be shared on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com

Carson McLane Funeral Home