Lucille Lester

Services are scheduled at 1:00 pm Friday, August 8 at Trinity Temple for Lucille Pettit Lester of Artesia. Services will be conducted by Pastor Bobby Argo and Don Price with burial in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon, Texas on Saturday, August 9. Pallbearers are Robbie Burgess, Jeffrey Pettit, Matthew Pettit, Randy Scott, Bob Plummer, and Harold Parrish. Honorary pallbearers are great-grandsons Jantzan and Jaron Scott and all the members of Harold Parrishs Sunday School Class, including Nick Rodriquez, Sr., Elton Arnold, and Juan Chavez. Another memorial service will be held at First Assembly of God in Canyon at 11:00am Saturday, August 9, 2003. On August 5, 2003, Lucille Pettit Lester completed a life lived well on earth. Because of her over-coming faith in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, she was awarded the Victors Crown James 1: 12 in heaven. Known affectionately as Mema by both her family and friends, Lucille touched countless thousands of lives throughout her 55 years as an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God. Born October 4, 1915 in Slidell, Texas to Odie Pior and May Glance Pior, she married A. J. Buddy Pettit on May 30, 1934. Together, they pioneered and established a church in Plains, Texas and also served as pastors at First Assembly of God Church in Canyon, Texas for 28 years. After the death of her first husband, Lucille continued to pastor the church in Canyon for some time. Lucille came to Artesia from Canyon in 1981. She married Glen H. Lester on August 18, 1982 in Plainview, Texas. They pastored a church in Briscoe, Texas before returning to Artesia. He preceded her in death on June 11, 1998. Lucille Lester was known for having a compassionate heart, a vast knowledge of the Bible, and a strength and vitality that caused her to enjoy life until the end. She was an active and supportive member of Trinity Temple, yet ministered to many in the community of faith in Artesia. She loved everyone she met and that love was returned to her in full measure. Her favorite scriptures were Jeremiah 33:3-Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not and Matthew 18:20-For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them. Her home was known for being a place of prayer, and many, many people were encouraged and changed by Gods power in her living room and over the telephone. In addition to the many friendships that Lucille had maintained throughout the years, she is survived by daughter Gaylene Burgess and husband, Robert, of Artesia; son Dwayne Pettit and wife Jeannette, of Dallas, Texas; two step-daughters Carolyn Coburn and husband, Paul, of Pottsboro, Texas and Beverly Cranston of Lewisville, Texas; three sisters, Katherine Adcock of Leveland, Texas, Monnie Franklin and husband Frank, of Granbury, Texas, and Genevieve Vela and husband, Paul, of Bay City, Texas; one brother, Odem Pior anid wife, Evelyn, of Puyallup, Washington; five grandchildren, Jillana Burgess Plummer and husband, Bob, of Artesia, Jalane Scott and husband, Randy, of Bryan, Texas, Robbie Burgess and wife, Tina, of Artesia, Jeffrey Pettit and wife, Lupe, and Matthew Pettit and wife Leanne of Dallas, Texas; one step-grandchild, Jonathan Tyler Shimada; four great-grandchildren Jantzan and Jaron Scott of Bryan, Texas and Brittney and Janessa Burgess of Artesia, and numerous nieces and nephews. Lucille will be missed by all of us, but our joy comes from knowing that she has completed her race on earth and has embraced what we can only see from a distance. Her life has challenged us to live to a higher purpose and to fulfill the call that God has on each of our lives.