Doug Lester

Douglas J. Lester, 75, of Raleigh, N.C., passed away with his family by his side on May 5, 2018, after a brief battle with bladder cancer. The son of James William Lester and Susie Wood Lester, he was born in Thomasville, N.C., on October 10, 1942, and grew up in Greensboro. He was a 1961 graduate of Greensboro Senior High School, where he was known as “Mighty Mite” on the Whirlies football team. He was a 1965 graduate of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He later earned a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation in 1973 from American College and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation in 1985. Doug was never short on laughter. He loved deep conversation and was always ready for a good meal. His curiosity led him to embrace others with easy empathy and warmth. He found happiness in the fresh air, on his bike or on a run, and with his family and friends. He found purpose in the many meaningful relationships he cultivated through his work and as a founding member of The Men’s Council where he impacted the lives of hundreds of men as a mentor and leader. Doug is survived by his children Amy Lester of Plainfield, Vt.; Ashley Lester and David Tillinghast of Seneca, S.C.; Andy and Paige Lester-Niles of Winston-Salem, N.C.; Austin Lester of Greensboro; Aaron Lester and Kristin Barrali of Boston, Mass.; his grandchildren, Elliott Lester, Finn Lester-Niles, Posey Lester-Niles, Abraham Lester-Barrali, Angelo Lester-Barali, and Auden Tillinghast. He is also survived by his partner in life and love, Carol Chambers of Chapel Hill; and his former wife and mother of his children, Twink Gaskins Lester of Chapel Hill. In addition he had three siblings: James C. and Faye Lester of Richmond, Va., Fred W. Lester of Newnan, Ga., and Margaret Lester Mock and Willis Mock of Fredericksburg, Va.