Lester King

Vibrant, Lester King, the eighth child of a family of seventeen, was born May 13, 1915 in Bessemer, Alabama to the late Robert Benjamin King and Emma Thompson King. He completed Pipe Shop Elementary School in 1931. While attending Dunbar High School he participated in many academic, athletic and social activities and graduated in 1935. In the late thirties and early forties he was a loyal member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church where he served as Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School under Mr. Charlie Alford and served as President of the Usher Board for five years. In 1940 he married the lovely "Callie (Honey) Dora Fells Gardner". Lester loved Honey and embraced Cleveland (Sonny) as his own. They were happily married for an awesome 62 years until her passing in 2002. He worked at U.S. Pipe for seven years in Bessemer, Alabama. He had a desire to weld, but was denied a welding job because of the color of his skin. He and his family moved to New York in 1943. That move was very beneficial in advancing his career. He was paid to go to school to learn to weld and became a welder. He retired from Pressed Weld and Steel, Inc. He later became a conductor for the New York Transit System and retired after eighteen years of service. His work at Community Baptist Church in Bayside NY was enjoyable. He served as Treasurer of the Usher Board for three years, Vice President for seven years and a member of the trustee board for over 40 years. Lester served as Scout Master for Troop Number 307 for nine years, served as an institutional representative for Troop Number 442. He attended First Aide Instructors class in Civil Defense and taught First Aide at Community Baptist Church, all with success. From boyhood he liked sports especially baseball, football, boxing and basketball in which he participated. During his travels, Lester met several famous athletes and world leaders. While on the Engineer Golf Course he met Joe Lewis, world boxing champion, Sugar Ray Robinson, welter Weight Champion, Beau Jack, number one contender for light weight championship and professional bowler Jesse Smith. In 1992, Lester, Honey and Sonny returned to Bessemer, Alabama where he was an active member of Oak Grove Baptist Church. Because of his passion for mentoring the younger generation, he was instrumental in forming the youth usher board. Lester adored his West Highland Community family. He never met a stranger. He made everyone feel special and was very affectionate and generous. Lester was full of wisdom and knowledge and enjoyed being a father figure to many. Additionally, he was a volunteer with the West Highland Neighborhood Watch and member of the Urban Voters League. Until the age of 95, Lester continued to enjoy being outdoors whether mowing his massive yard, gardening or just sitting on the front porch watching the cars go by. A victorious life was completed and eternal rest granted to Lester Leroy King on Monday, February 18, 2013. He leaves to cherish his precious memories: one son Cleveland (Sonny) King, three sisters, Delores Sea, Chicago, IL, Thelma McCaslin, Sun City West, AZ and Wilma K. Cephus, Greensboro, AL, one sister-in-law Willie Mae King, Bessemer, AL, a special niece and caregiver, Valarie K. (Gary) Bland, Hoover, AL, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.