Lester Roberson Jr, the oldest of four children was born in the small town of Rocky Ford, Georgia on March 12, 1938 to Lester and Naomi Roberson, and raised in historic Savannah, Georgia. Being the oldest, Lester took on a lot of responsibility early on in life.  At a very early age he helped his mother care for the family. While in Junior High and High School he took on after-school jobs to help make ends meet. He was known by all to be a very hard-working young man. 

Lester graduated with honors from Woodville High School in Savannah, Georgia in 1956 and earned a scholarship to Savannah State College. While in college he began to date Ella Mae Ralph, who he would pick up in his 1957 CHEVY; known as the GRASSHOPPER. Both Lester and Ella left college to start a life together and were married on December 21, 1958.  Shortly thereafter, Lester and Ella relocated to New York where Lester would be able to find work to provide for his new family. Lester began working for Rambler Corporation in 1960 and for the US Postal Service from 1963 until his retirement in 2000.

NYC is where Lester along with Ella began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1963. Lester symbolized his dedication and along with his wife was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on March 27, 1965.  Lester served as an elder in the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses for many years, starting in 1972 when the arrangement first began. He also had the privilege of serving on the Patient Visitation Group which provided encouragement for Jehovah’s Witnesses during their stay in the hospital.  Lester also served as a tour guide at the NJ Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses where he was able to meet brothers and sisters from all over the world and always had exciting stories to tell from this assignment.  In the year 2000 Lester also began serving as a Regular Pioneer (full-time minister) devoting 70 hours per month to help others learn Bible truths.

Lester along with Ella endeavored to instill Bible truths in the hearts of their four children and taught them to love Jehovah.  Spending time with his family is what Lester loved to do.  He made sure to care for their spiritual needs by regular meeting attendance, field ministry and family worship every Monday evening at 7:00 PM.  He always showed balance by also making sure to take the family on summer vacations where they all had the best of times. 

Along with family, Lester genuinely loved people in general, which is why you could always find him in the field ministry helping others to come to know Jehovah. If he missed a day at his regular street witnessing spot, people would ask about where he was.  For the past three years he was regularly found at the Hunts Point Train Station sharing in the Public Witnessing Work which he loved to do.  There, he was not only able to give a witness to onlookers but was able to have an interchange of encouragement with his fellow brothers and sisters.

Lester earned the respect of many throughout the years in his service to Jehovah and was lovingly referred to as “Pop” and Pappa Roberson.

Lester is predeceased by his sister Corneilia Singletary and brother Charles (Timmy) Roberson. 

He leaves behind a loving wife of 61 years, Ella Mae Roberson, four children Lester III, Vincent, Kristal and Steven; two daughters-in-law Denise and Georgina; four grandchildren, Genesis, Samuel, Matthew and Eileen; brother, Eddie Lee (Johnny) Roberson; aunt Martha Westbrook; uncle George Ward, sister-in-law, Ellen Davis; along with a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

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We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the love, compassion, support and prayers you have all shown to our family during this difficult time. We will always be grateful.

- The Roberson Family