Mr. Lester "Tiny" Wells Sr.

WELLS, Mr. Lester Sr. "Tiny" - Age 71, passed away Saturday, January 28, 2017 at his residence. Family hour 12:00 PM Friday, February 3, 2017 at Blackwell AME Zion Church, 1902 Sonny St., with funeral service commencing at 1:00 PM, Rev. Anthony G. Morris, Eulogist, Rev. Darren Overton, officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 12:00 PM Friday. Mr. Wells will lie in state in the Sanctuary of the Blackwell AME Church, and may be viewed from 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday. Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 To Everything There is a Season and a Time to Every Purpose Under the Heaven: A Time to Be Born--- Lester F. Wells Sr. (Tiny) was born in Flint, Michigan, November 9, 1945, he was the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Lester H. (Velma Ruth Hunter) Wells. He grew up on Billings Street with his brother Bobby Joe Wells and Sheila Denise Wells. They could open the gate in their backyard and enter the yard of their grandparents Frank (Daddy O) and Estelle Hunter who lived on Crissman Street, next door was their Uncle John (Rosemary) Hunter, in a community where neighbors became family. This is where he played with cousins and met life-long friends and was affectionately known as “Butch”. He grew up fishing and hunting with his grandfather, Daddy O and Uncle John which lead to a life-long love for fishing and hunting. He maintained a special bond over the years with his 93 year old father. A Time to Die--- He transitioned from this earthly life to his heavenly home on Saturday January 28, 2017 A Time to Plant--- Lester accepted Christ at a young age and was baptized at Canaan Baptist Church. Lester attended Flint Public Schools, and was a graduate of Flint Northern High School Class of 1963. He attended JC Community College (Mott), while briefly working for the Flint Board of Education. He retired from General Motors and was a member of UAW Local #599. Tiny married the love of his life, Karlene Yvonne Dent on May 28, 1966. Together they raised three children and nurtured them and their spouses, Rhonda DeShawn Wells-Wilbon of Bowie Maryland, Lester (Kristen) F. Wells Jr. of Lompoc California, and Kimberly Denise (Henry) Hall of Troy Michigan, and son in-law Anthony Wilbon of Bowie, Maryland. A Time to Pluck Up that Which is Planted--- Tiny was the loving Grandy to five grandchildren. Justin Henry Hall and Jaleise DeShawn Hall of Troy Michigan, Azaan Saalim Wilbon and Jabari Jakada Wilbon of Bowie Maryland, and Kyissa Ashanti Lindsey of Lompoc, California. They were the absolute joy of his life, and they adored him back. His love for texting probably started with them! He had individual relationships with them all… spending many hours with them on various family special occasions, but the times they loved the most was camping up North in Idle Wild and going out on his fishing boat “The Wells Family Yacht”. Among his family and friends, he was known by many different names… Butch, Les, Big Les and Tiny, but no matter what you called him, there wasn’t a topic he didn’t know everything about, or a debate you were going to win! But after you got over being wrong or losing, you didn’t care, because he was the best son, husband, son in-law, daddy/pops, grandy, brother, brother in-law, uncle, and friend a person could ever have. A connoisseur of fine foods, he could prepare it all from any kind of wild game to an entire holiday feast. But the favorite of pretty much everyone by far was his fried fish with homemade fries and his Mother Ruth’s dressing. Lester was a faithful member of Blackwell A.M.E. Zion Church, where he served on the Men’s Ministry, Van Ministry, Steward Board, “Secret” Security, and the Missionary Society. A Time to Weep. A Time to Laugh, A Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance Lester also leaves to cherish his memory: his mother in-law Katie L. Harper of Flint; aunt Vivian (Ruth) Cook; brother in-laws James Harper, Ambus (Stephanie) Harper, Douglas (Jannifer) Harper, Mark (Terri) Harper; sister in-law Sandra Jones; nephews Stacey (Shonda) Wells, Kelvin Skelton, Damone (Nikki) Harper, Adam (Colleen) Harper, Brandon Harper, Mark Harper II, and Stephen Harper; nieces Stephanie (Randall) Morris, Tracey Davison, Kim Sanders, Ambia Harper, Alaina Harper, Ashley Harper; many cousins, great nieces and great nephews; god-children, Ericka (Coleman) Witherspoon and Angela Campbell; god-granddaughter, Jene’a Johnson; and his ‘other son” Delano (Martina) Burton. Lester was preceded in death by his mother, Velma Ruth Wells; brother Bobby Joe Wells; grandparents, Clarence and Lorena Wells, and Frank and Estelle Hunter; uncles Frank Hunter Jr., Clarence (Virgie) Wells, Walter Ellis; aunts Thelma Jolly, Lillie Mae Neal, Theresa Cousins, Isabell Ellis; friends Robert Coleman Jr., James (Jimmy) McClinton, Walter (Pepper) Ferguson. The family of Lester F. Wells Sr. would like to express special thanks to his “play sister” Leora (Nathaniel) Campbell, special cousins Patsy (Horace) Strozier, Marcia (Stephen) Boone, and William (Carolyn) Turner.

Mr. Lester "Tiny" Wells Sr.

November 9, 1945 - January 28, 2017