James "Jimmy" Luther Lester Sr.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of five decades, Gwendolyn Gleason Lester, and his parents, William McMorris and Elizabeth Miles Lester. Survivors include his sons, James L. Lester Jr. (Anne) and Frank Gleason Lester (Laura), and his grandchildren, Lea Lester and Gleason Lester.

He was a lifelong resident of Augusta, graduating from Richmond Academy and then the Citadel. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, he got his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. He was elected to the Georgia Senate in 1970, and represented the 23rd District (west Augusta) for seven terms.

He was passionate about mental health issues, and received numerous awards, including the Public Affairs Award for Service to Mental Health (Mental Health Association of Atlanta – 1976), Distinguished Service Award (Georgia Association for Mental Health – 1977), Outstanding Service to Mental Health (Mental Health Association for Greater Augusta – 1978), and Senator of the Year (Georgia Association of Mental Health – 1984).

He was a former president of the Richmond Unit of the American Cancer Society, former vice president of the Richmond County Easter Seal Society, a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, a former Augusta District lay leader of the United Methodist Church, member and former officer of the Augusta Kiwanis Club, a member of the Augusta, Georgia, and American bar associations, a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, and served several terms as the regional representative of the state Department of Transportation board. Serving as a Democratic Senator, he rose to chair the Banking and Finance Committee in the Georgia Senate.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CSRA Humane Society at www.CSRA-hs.com.

Graveside services with military honors will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Westover Memorial Park, 2601 Wheeler Road, Augusta, GA 30904. Elliott Sons Funeral Home on Columbia Road is handling the arrangements.