Kathleen Lester-Edwards

Kathleen Lester-Edwards was born in Grundy, Virginia on November 13, 1929, to Cornelius and Vallie Wallace Lester. She graduated from Grundy High School in 1946 and received her B.A. degree from Radford University. She then continued her education, receiving a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Virginia.

After a successful teaching career throughout Virginia, Kathleen turned her attention to real estate and established View Properties and The Fireside School in Alexandria, Virginia. She continued to be a very active participant in real estate, becoming a broker and advisor to many who wanted to pursue a career in that field until her health became an issue.

Besides her entire family, another of her many passions was art; she was a truly gifted painter, studying with Mr. John Bannon and traveling the world to view the works of the Masters. She was a member of the Oxon Hill, MD Arts and Antiques Club.

Kathleen became a member of the Harmony Hall Chapter of Fort Washington, Maryland Daughters of the American Revolution on 18 October 1989. Though Kathleen had DAR chapters she could have belonged to in Virginia, she chose to become a member in Ft. Washington to be with her cousin/friend Muriel Branham Oehme. She served as Chairman of the American Indian Committee first, and then held the National Defense Committee Chairmanship for a number of years until she became Chapter Regent in 1992. She served as Regent for two terms, 1992-93 through 1996. After she stepped down as Regent, she resumed her National Defense Committee work until this year when she was unable to collect the money, gifts and various items to go to Charlotte Hall Veterans Home at Charlotte Hall, MD. No amount of bad weather could deter Kathleen from her Santa duties at Charlotte Hall. She would step in and serve as interim Regent if the person in office became ill or had a problem. She also belonged to DAR chapters near her home in Alexandria, VA and in Fl where she made her winter home. Kathleen loved her DAR work and was always available to take on another responsibility. She saw that her daughter and granddaughter became DAR members.

Kathleen was preceded in death by two sons, George Perry Bailey IV and Stephen Craig Bailey; her parents, Cornelius and Vallie Lester of Grundy, VA; a sister, Patricia Lester-Stacy of Bluefield, VA; and a sister-in-law, Mary Jane Bruin Lester of Wytheville, VA.

Survivors include her husband, Richard Charles Edwards; daughter, Shearer Bailey (husband Don) of Cambridge MD; son Richard Cornelius Edwards of Bristol, VA also Randall DeRonde (husband Randy) of Thousand Oaks, CA; Mark Edwards (wife Laura) of Saxonburg, PA; and Ashley Edwards of Houston, TX; sister Brenda Lester-Sprinkle (husband Stephen) of Abingdon, VA; two brothers, Robert Vernon Lester of Wytheville, VA, and Henry Wallace Lester (wife Betty) of Roanoke, VA; grandchildren: Lindsay Kathleen Pruitt; Alexander George Edwards; Nathan, Prisca, Phillip, Tommy, Stephen, Naomi and Peter Edwards; and Madison and Jake De Ronde; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and two precious great-great nephews, all of whom adored their "Grandma Kat." Kathleen is also survived by two aunts: Ruth Keen Justus of Hurley, VA, and Juanita M. Lester (husband Jody) of Abingdon, VA.

A Memorial Service was held on Saturday November 19, 2011, at Demaines Funeral Home in Springfield, VA. A Memorial Service is also scheduled at Oakey's East Funeral Chapel in Roanoke, VA on November 26 from 4 P.M. until 6 P.M. Relatives and friends of Kathleen are invited to come share their recollections of this wonderful lady. A private burial will be held at a later date at the Mountain Valley Memorial Cemetery in Buchanan County, VA, where Kathleen will be laid to rest beside her son Craig. Demaines Funeral Home of Springfield, VA; Oakey's East Funeral Chapel of Roanoke, VA; and Farris Funeral Service of Abingdon, VA assisted the family of Kathleen Lester-Edwards.