Sheila Theresa Lester Kennedy passed away on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at WFU/Baptist Medical Center. She was born on June 24, 1953 in Biloxi, Mississippi to Waldo Collins Lester, Sr., and the late Marjorie Thurston Lester.
In her youth she was afforded the opportunity to live in various places around the United States as well as in Itazuke, Japan through her father's service in the Air Force.
Ms. Kennedy was a 1971 graduate of RJ Reynolds High School, and was also Miss Debutante of the same year. Sheila later attended Mitchell Junior College in Statesville and Winston-Salem State University. She spent part of her adult life in Minneapolis, Minnesota before returning to Winston-Salem 20 years ago. She was an employee with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools as a bus driver until her health no longer allowed her to drive. When that occurred she worked at Ashley Magnet School as a lunch aide, continuing to assist children in some positive capacity throughout their school day.
Also upon returning to Winston-Salem, Sheila rejoined Hanes Memorial CME Church. She was a longtime member of the HMC Chorale and participated in various programs in the church.
She was preceded in death by her only child, LeeVonne C. Lester; her mother, Marjorie Thurston Lester; and her eldest sister, Sylena E. Nesbitt.
Left to celebrate her life are her father, Retired Master Sergeant Waldo C. Lester, Sr.; her sisters, Marjorie L. Brannon of Newport News, VA, Yvonne L. Thacker and Phyllis A. Lester of the city; her brother, Waldo C. Lester, Jr. (Dana) of Lutz, Fl; her brother-in-law, John D. Nesbitt, Sr. of the city; her uncles, Sterling Price Thurston (Mimi) of Olympia, WA and Preston K. Lester of the city; aunts, Bertha L. Farmer (Anthony) of Enfield, NC and Rosemary Thurston of Vallejo, CA; her beloved grandchildren Sylena N. Lester-Johnson and LeeVonne C. Lester, Jr.; and an adopted granddaughter, Carla Johnson of the city. In addition numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and close friends will also miss her humor, laughter, care and concern for all she knew.
Funeral services will be held at 12noon Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at Hanes Memorial CME Church, 819 N. Highland Ave., Winston-Salem. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12noon on Wednesday at the Church.