Alice ‘Happy’ Huddleston Lester
Alice “Happy” Huddleston Lester, 83, died on Monday, November 26 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Happy was born on July 30, 1929, in Alcoa, and was a 1951 graduate of Maryville College. On April 20, 1952, she married James P. Lester of Birmingham, Ala. The couple spent the next 51 years living in the Birmingham area where Happy was a charter member of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, served as an elder and choir member in the Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church and as a para professional with the Mountain Brook school system for many years. Upon the death of her husband Jim, Happy moved back to Maryville, where she was an active member of New Providence Presbyterian Church volunteering in many areas, including their “Welcome Table,” which serves meals for the less fortunate. She was also a regular volunteer at Maryville College in the Archive department and was awarded the Maryville College Alumni citation for her service to others. She is preceded in death by parents, H. Harold and Anne Crane Huddleston; sister, Elizabeth Myers; brother, Stanley Huddleston; husband, Jim; and daughter, Lydia Ann Emfinger. Survived by sister, Lydia Jane Huddleston of Maryville; son, James P. (Norma) Lester, Jr. of Wichita, Kan.; daughter, Alice Leigh (Gary) Shipman of Charlotte, N.C.; son, Peter H. (Christine) Lester of Eldersburg, Md., and grandchildren, Lauren (Michael) Givens, Peter (Kerry) Lester, Jr., Rush Lester, Stephanie Shipman, and Katherine Lester. A loving Christian, homemaker, wife, Mom, “GranHappy,” caregiver and true friend, Happy will be loved and missed by all who knew her. Memorial service will be held at New Providence Presbyterian Church, 703 West Broadway Avenue, Maryville, on Saturday, December 1, 2012, at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends immediately following the ceremony. Memorial contributions may be made to New Providence Presbyterian Church, Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church and/or Maryville College. Carolina Cremation of Salisbury is assisting the Lester family. Online condolences may be made at http://www.mycarolinacremation.com
