Lester Senter Wilson

Mary Lester Senter Wilson passed away on January 10, 2025. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on January 24, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157, preceded by visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Entombment will follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland.

Lester was born on March 10, 1942, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Martha and Selden Senter. She is survived by her sister, Martha Green. From an early age, Lester displayed an extraordinary musical ability. She began piano lessons at age four and later studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, the Mozarteum University of Salzburg in Austria, and Louisiana State University, where she earned a Master of Arts in piano performance. Lester went on to the University of Texas at Austin, receiving dual Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in both piano and voice—trailblazing as the first recipient of such a distinction.

A pivotal moment in Lester’s life came when her remarkable vocal range was discovered while she was accompanying voice teacher Martha Deatherage. Recognizing Lester’s unique gift, Martha quickly set her on the path to becoming an internationally recognized mezzo-soprano. Lester’s career took flight as she performed more than sixty operatic roles with leading opera companies, festivals, and symphonies across the United States, Europe, and Mexico. Her talent led her to share the stage with renowned artists such as Plácido Domingo, Norman Treigle, and Beverly Sills.

In August 1978, Lester’s love of opera led her to cross paths with Richard Baxter (“Dick”) Wilson, Jr., and the two were married. Their shared passion for music became a foundation of their life together, and Dick remained a loving supporter of Lester’s artistry throughout their marriage.

Lester continued to nurture the arts through leadership and mentoring. In 1984, she became the executive director of the Neva Plant Wideman International Piano Competition, dedicating four decades to building it into a highly respected event for students worldwide. She guided competitors in every aspect of their careers—from stage presence to the business side of artistry—and often traveled with the gold medalists for their prize-winning engagements.

A driving force in Mississippi’s cultural scene, Lester served on the boards of Opera Mississippi and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, bringing renowned musicians and productions to the state’s stages. She recorded eleven CDs, including The Memory Is a Living Thing, based on the writings of Eudora Welty, with whom Lester formed a lasting friendship. Another notable recording, Songs from the Natchez Trace, celebrated the completion of the Natchez Trace Parkway. She also brought the art and talent of Walter Anderson to life in a one woman show she performed celebrating the Mississippi Gulf Coast legend.

Though her musical achievements were extraordinary, Lester also found meaning in civic and historical organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), where she performed at significant events, including DAR’s Continental Congress in Washington, D.C. In recognition of her lifetime contributions to the arts, she received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2001.

Above all, Lester’s greatest legacy is her unwavering dedication to sharing God’s gift of music. She leaves behind family, friends, colleagues, and countless students who will cherish her warmth, mentorship, and incomparable talent. All who met Lester have at least one fond remembrance, humorous story or profound impact Lester added to their life.

Memorials and Condolences

The family requests that memorials be made to The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, 201 E. Pascagoula Street, Jackson, MS 39201, Belhaven University (School of Music), 1500 Peachtree Street, Jackson, MS 39202, or The Lester Senter Wilson Endowment Fund for the Wideman International Piano Competition (Community Foundation of North Louisiana, 401 Edwards, Suite 105, Shreveport, LA 71191) or to a music-education charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be shared through the funeral home’s website.