Ora Lee Lester was born in Newnan, Ga., on February 22, 1947, to the late Guss Banks and Bernice Brittian Banks. She departed this life on May 29, 2025.
Ora and her parents moved to Chattanooga while she was very young. Ora graduated from Howard High School. She joined New Emmanuel Baptist Church at a young age. During her young adult life, she served on several church committees. She worked several jobs throughout the city of Chattanooga.
Ora was a very devoted wife, mother, sister, daughter, and aunt to many. She would go out of her way to make people at ease, giving her all to help as well. Her gracious smile and kindness will be missed by many.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Guss Banks and Bernice Brittian Banks; her brothers, Clifford Banks, Sr., and Willie Glenn Banks; and her husband of 55 years, Bobby Lester.
She leaves to cherish her memory, sons, Stacy Lester, Atlanta and David Lester, Chattanooga; nephews, Lebron (Ann) Geter, Chattanooga, Clifford Jr. (Jade), Chattanooga and Nicholas (Shalaina) Banks, Atlanta, Doirreon (Jennifer) Greer, Cleveland OH, Spurgeon Oglesby, Tampa FL, Chandler Oglesby Tampa FL; nieces, Kenya Banks, Chattanooga, and Bobbie L. (Jakeem Fells, Columbus OH); sisters-in law, Denise (Anthony) Gibbins, Columbus and Patricia (Spurgeon) Oglesby, Atlanta; a host of family and friends; Ora’s best friends, Mary Blair Shaw and Albert Thornton.
Public viewing will begin at 10 a.m. until the hour of the service at noon, on Monday, June 16, at New Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Interment will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga, 423-622-9995.