Arland Lester Jr.

Arland Langley Lester, Jr, 64, of Leesville, passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Mr. Lester was born in Sumter, SC, a son of Arland Langley Lester, Sr and Carolyn Hodge Lester. Arland served our great country with the United States Airforce for 6+ years as a Crew Chief on B-52s and F-4C planes. He then served our community with the Columbia Police Department for 23 years. Most importantly he served our Lord and Savior and helped our church, Old Samaria Baptist Church, grow to reach others and share the love of Jesus Christ. He rarely missed a service and served as a deacon for many years.

Arland had a great love for his family and his community. He always wanted to help others in every way he knew how. He loved his wife Marie with every fiber of his being. He cherished her for over 31 years. He was so proud of his children and all their accomplishments. He got the privilege to walk his daughters down the aisle at their weddings and he got to see his son Joshua thrive through his Army career. He was very proud of Joshua for pursuing his college degree in Civil Engineering. He adored his grandson Landon and enjoyed spending as much time with him as possible. Arland was able to donate tissue to continue being a hero for others. He was a member of the Palmetto Tractor Club which gave back to the community and cherished the Midland Gospel Singing Center every month. He will be deeply missed but we will take comfort in knowing he is with our Lord in Heaven.

He is survived by his wife, Marie Lester; daughters, Jessica (Joshua) Greene, Kayla (Jonathan) Ramsey; and son, Joshua Lester; grandsons, Jon Carver Ramsey and Landon Greene. Also surviving are his parents, Arland Lester, Sr. and Carolyn Hodge Lester; sisters, Fran (Frank) Howard, Janet (Rick) Sutton; and brother, Timothy (Stacey) Lester; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Arland was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Ruby and James Edward Hodge; his paternal grandparents, Effie and Nelson Lester; uncles, Ott Lester, Claude Lester, Phillip Lester and Orville Lester, Sr. and his aunt, Ella Mae Benjamin (Nee Hodge).

The service for Arland will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 19th at Old Samara Baptist Church with Rev. Barry Anderson and Rev. Charles Bodie officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service beginning in the church sanctuary. Burial with military honors will be held at 9:00 a.m., Monday, February 20th at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

The family request in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Mrs. Lester to help offset medical and funeral cost.