Rev. Lester Porter

COMMERCE – Rev. Lester Randall Porter, 69, died Saturday, February 13, 2010, at the Athens Regional Medical Center following an extended illness.

Born in Clarke County, he was the son of the late Lester and Mildred Porter. He was a retired minister with the Church of God, Cleveland, Tenn., and had also worked for several years with the Harmony Grove Mills prior to becoming a minister. Mr. Porter was preceded in death by a son, Steven Randall Porter.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Evelyn Porter, Commerce; sister-in-law, Kathleen Maddox, Hull; children, Debra Porter and her husband, William Martin, Commerce, Bobby Porter, Hull, Jean Wood, Gillsville, Rev. Lonnie and Betty Bennett, Hartwell, James Bennett of Commerce and his dear friend, Sara Beach of Winder, Pam and Charles Scarborough, Royston, Jon and Tracy Bennett, Commerce; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, February 15, at 3 p.m., from the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home with the Revs. Curtis Woods, Lonnie Bennett and Carlton Peters officiating. Burial will be in the Grey Hill Cemetery.

Ivie Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.