Deaconess Lester M. Butler

SELESTER MAE BUTLER, affectionately known as “Lester” and “Pudding” to family and friends, was born on July 2, 1941 to the late Johnnie Bullock and Lillian Alston in Norfolk, Virginia. She departed this life on Friday, June 6, 2025 to enter into the eternal rest of her LORD, with her loving sister Doris and brother-in-law Terry at her side. Lester was raised in Littleton, North Carolina and accepted JESUS Christ as her Lord & Savior during her childhood years as a member of the Saint Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Littleton, NC. Throughout her childhood Lester could be found on Sunday mornings sitting near the front of the church with her grandparents, Emmett & Mamie Alston, and sister Myrtle. Lester developed a strong work ethic at an early age while working in the fields sharecropping alongside other family members to sustain the family during difficult times. Lester attended McIra High School, dreaming of attending college & becoming a nurse, until her plans were altered, when she moved to Baltimore, MD at 16 due to the failing health of her grandparents. Struggling to adjust to her new city environment after living in rural North Carolina all of her life, Lester leaned on her faith in GOD for guidance to help her continue her education and fulfill her grandmother’s advice to find a career to establish her independence and retire comfortably to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Lester met John Butler in Fort Meade, MD in 1964 while he was enlisted in the US Army and stationed at Fort Meade. They fell in love and married on September 7, 1965. Two sons were born from this union, John (Byron) and Derrick Butler. Lester never shied away from difficult tasks and worked in various capacities while attending night school in pursuit of better opportunities, believing that GOD Honors a hard & honest day’s work. Lester’s faith and hard work paid off when she accepted a position with the Social Security Administration as a Claims & Benefits Technician in May 1973, retiring in July 2006 after 33+ years of federal service. When John & Lester separated, she was determined to instill Godly values and a strong work ethic in her sons to give them the best opportunity to succeed in life. She often worked overtime during the work week and on Saturdays to ensure the bills were paid on time, saving diligently to ensure her sons would have the means to attend college to achieve the goals she never did. She taught her sons that they could overcome the challenges of life with committed faith in The LORD, education & hard work. She when they got out of line, knowing that the consequences from a cold unforgiving world were far more severe. She joined the New Fellowship Christian Community Church in January 1991 under the leadership of the late Bishop Kevin Rogers, where she was ordained as a Deaconess. She continued her membership there under the current leadership of Bishop David Chaney until the time of her death. Lester leaves to cherish her memory: son, Derrick Butler; sisters, Doris Whitaker (Terry), Cynthia Nicholson-El; nephews, Antonio Tucker (Adrianne), Tyrone Tucker, Tyrell Allen (Shanita), and Terrell Mills; nieces Darnette Putney (Jamin), Octavia Manning, Danielle Ledbetter (Gary) and Dominique Hughes; a special great-niece, Jaide Putney, affectionately known to her as “Sweet-Sweet”; a host of great-nephews, nieces, and a great-great-niece, cousins, church family, prayer partners, former coworkers and neighbors. Lester was preceded in death by her parents, son John Byron Butler, sister Myrtle Bullock, and brother John Mills.

Tributes

Deaconess Lester M. Butler

July 2, 1941 - June 6, 2025