Mary Anne Carnes Lester

12/27/1930 - 11/13/2022

Obituary For Mary Anne Carnes Lester

Mary Anne Carnes Lester, 91, of West Point, Georgia passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 13, 2022 at WellStar Hospice in LaGrange, Georgia.

She was born on December 27th, 1930 in Rome, Georgia to the late Walter and Henrietta Yarborough Carnes. She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings: Eugenia Wiseman, June Selman, and Walter Carnes, Jr. Her beloved husband, Hazen Russell Lester, Junior (Russell), died in 2020. They were married five days shy of 69 years.

Mrs. Lester is survived by her son, Hazen Russell Lester, III (Russ) of Auburn, Alabama; daughter, Mary Kathryn Chirnside and special son-in-law, Bryden, of West Point, Georgia; granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth Lester Crowley (Tim) of Lanett, Alabama; grandson, James Russell Lester (Mandy) of Alexandria, Virginia; and former daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Lanier Lester, of West Point, Georgia. She was also blessed with two precious great-grandsons, Timothy and Heyward Crowley, and a Lester baby boy on the way.

Her Florida family were also very dear to her, including granddaughters Ashley Ely, Emma Deloach (Chris) and Katie Zavalos (Michael) and great-grandchildren: Zachary, Chloe, and Miles Ely; Savannah and Raegan Deloach; and Stasya Zavalos all of Lakeland, Florida.

Mary Anne graduated from Johnson High school in 1948. She was a member of the Rome, Georgia Symphony where she played a violin that Russell made for her. She was a treasured and adored member of the First United Methodist Church in West Point, Georgia. She was a faithful member of the Adult Choir, Alter Guild, and Pastor of Parrish Committee. She was also a member of Kaluska Garden Club, Daughters of the American Revolution, West Point Contemporary Club, and “Sweet Six” luncheon group.

She was a loving, wonderful wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother. “Grandmother” enjoyed playing games, spend-the-night parties, and baking cookies. She was known city-wide for her recipes, especially “Mrs. Weldon’s” cheese straws and yeast rolls. She enjoyed reading her Bible (which was always nearby), traveling, bird watching, gardening, and flower arranging. She even transferred her plants from place to place as she, Russell, and family moved from Georgia to Texas and back due to Russell’s job in textiles. She was also able to share her love for nature with others through her volunteering at the Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens.

Mary Anne always had a positive attitude and had a great sense of humor with a contagious laugh. She never complained and worked so hard with her dedicated therapists after her stroke in 2014. She will be sorely missed and will always be in her family and friends’ hearts.

A special thanks to the faithful and dedicated hours of loving care provided by Angie Phillips, Rhonda Leslie, Erica Haynes, and Renee Morris

A private family graveside service will be held Friday, November 18th, followed by a celebration of life at the First United Methodist Church in West Point, Georgia at 12:00 Noon EST.

Arrangements by Bluffton Funeral Services, Lanett, Alabama.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, donations may be made to the West Point First United Methodist Church Meals on Wheels, WellStar Hospice of LaGrange, or the charity of your choice.

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