Samuel Langford Lester

Samuel Langford Lester was born April 27, 1927 in Savannah, Georgia to the late Louise Austin Lester and Samuel L. Lester Sr. On Thanksgiving morning, 11/26/09, in Harrisburg Hospital, Sam was called home to be with his Lord and his beloved wife Evelyn, who predeceased him, 2 months ago yesterday on 10/2/09. Sam received his elementary school education in Savannah, Georgia and was graduated from Beach High School in Savannah, Georgia. In 1948 he graduated from Savannah State College, Savannah, Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics. He began his work career as a high school teacher at Bryant Street School in Conyers, Georgia. He organized and coached the first Black basketball teams; boys and girls at Bryant Street School in Conyers. There he met, taught, and coached his soon to be wife Evelyn Gilstrap. The love story thus began. Though Sam fell in love with Evelyn during her senior high school year, they chose to wait until she graduated from college to marry. Evelyn was graduated from Morris Brown College and began her teaching career at the high school from which she was graduated; joining Sam there as a faculty member. Sam was noted for his "firm" yet progressive teaching style. Inspiring his students to develop those "untapped" and "unknown" talents within themselves to become someone to lead and inspire the next generation. He was a teacher in every sense on the word. On July 24, 1955, Sam married Evelyn Gilstrap of Conyers, Georgia. After their marriage Sam accepted a position as principal of an elementary school in Stuart, Virginia. There, in Stuart on December 23, 1958, they became proud parents of Jordan Lester. Sadly, two days later Jordan died on Christmas day. Later, Sam accepted a position as the principal of another elementary school in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Sam and Evelyn were easily persuaded to come to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where his sister Gwendolyn L. Bass and her family were already residing. Sam accepted a position as an elementary school principal at Steele School here in Harrisburg in 1970. He later became the principal at Lincoln School from which he eventually retired. After moving to Harrisburg, Sam joined Capital Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon, later an elder and held a position on the trustee board. Sam loved everything about Capital Presbyterian Church. He would later handle everything having to do with the Sunday School. In these early years, Sam and Evelyn became avid bridge players. Many of us do not know this but Sam was fond of writing children's books. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to have any of them published. He leaves to mourn his passing his sister, Gwendolyn Lester Bass, nephew, Charles(Olive) Bass; niece, Sara Patricia Jones; grand nephews Clifton and Charles Bass III; grand niece, Cristina Bass and a host of other relatives and friends of Harrisburg and Georgia. Evelyn's family considered Sam as a special and unique family member who's passing is mourned with great sadness and sense of loss. Services will be held in his church Thursday December 3rd at 11AM with viewing at 10. His final resting place will with his wife in Green Meadow Memorial Gardens, Conyers, GA. On behalf of the family the Hooper Memorial Home Inc. wishes to thank all of you for your many prayers and condolences during their bereavement.