Lester John Stokes Jr.

Lester John Stokes, Jr was born in Prince Edward County, Farmville, Virginia on October 13, 1943, to the late Lester J. Stokes, Sr., and Katherine Anderson Stokes. He was the first of five children. Lester entered into eternal rest on January 16, 2022, at Memorial Regional Hospital in Mechanicsville, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Irvin Stokes. At an early age, Lester accepted Christ and was baptized at Mercy Seat Baptist Church in Hampden Sydney, Virginia. As a youngster, he was affectionately called "Junior" by his siblings and other family members. He was loved and admired by all who knew him. He attended public school in Farmville, Virginia until 1959 when Prince Edward County was ordered by federal judge to integrate its schools. The county closed public schools rather than comply. He then left Farmville to live with relatives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He continued his education there by attending an electrician trade school, assisted his brother-in-law in his plumbing business, and later worked as a full-time employee with NABISCO Company. It was in Cambridge where he met and married the love of his life, Beverly. After residing in Cambridge for many years they moved to Richmond, Virginia where he continued his employment with NABISCO until his retirement in 2012. In 1999, Lester and Beverly moved to Mechanicsville, Virginia in Hanover County. Lester was a Jack-Of-All-Trades; he had many skills. He and Beverly purchased several houses in the Richmond area and they renovated them on weekends and in their spare time for resale. He loved to travel with Beverly, going on cruises inside and outside of the United States. He also traveled with his siblings driving long distances to visit family, friends, and tourist attractions. Lester leaves to cherish his memories his siblings: three brothers, Rudolph L. Stokes, Sr. (Florence) of Glen Allen, Virginia, James E. Stokes (Malinda) of Richmond, Virginia, Alton C. Stokes, Sr. of Farmville, Virginia; one sister, Sandra A. Stokes of Hyattsville, Maryland; two aunts, Louise Anderson of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Virginia Anderson of Cambridge, Massachusetts; one uncle, Hodges Brown of Cambridge, Massachusetts; seven sisters-in-law, Bernice Moore, Debra (Myron) Coleman, Naomi (Felix) Rojas, of Selma, Alabama, Jettie (George) Eatmon of Birmingham, Alabama and Ida Tarrant of Jonesboro, Georgia, Betty Irvin of Easton, Pennsylvania; four brothers-in-law, Benjamin (Dorothy) Irvin of Selma, Alabama, Frank (Mae) Irvin of Birmingham, Alabama, Willie (Cherelle) Irvin of Mattapan, Massachusetts and Henry (Pearl) Irvin of Pomona, California. He also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Tributes

Lester John Stokes Jr.

October 13, 1943 - January 16, 2022