Levia O'Dean "Dean" Jester

DOBSON - Heaven gained a precious angel in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Levia O’Dean “Dean” Speer Jester went to be with her Lord and Savior after a long and courageous battle with cancer, which could not take her spirit and soul. She is finally reunited with the love of her life, her husband, the late Rev. Kenneth Jester, and her precious daughter, Kelly Jester. She is also predeceased by her loving parents, Henry and Roxie Bledsoe Speer. Dean loved her God, her church, her family, and her friends and neighbors, while always ready and willing to lend a helping hand. She was well-known for selling Avon products for over 60 years, plus working at Wal-Mart and Comfort Inn, all while helping Kenneth on the family farm. She was born September 9, 1944 in the Jenkinstown Community of Surry County where she spent her entire life. Dean was an adoring wife, wonderful Mama, loving Nanny, precious sister, and special aunt. She leaves to cherish her memories two precious and loving daughters, Tracy (Lenny) Castro, Melissa (Darrell) Merritt; 3 grandchildren, Will (Melissa) Castro, Troy Castro, and McKenna Merritt who lovingly took care of her Nanny; a sister, Joyce (Guy) Prim; an Aunt, Faye Leupold; sisters-in-law, Violet Jester, Geneva Jester, and Mary Josey; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Mrs. Jester will be placed in Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Jenkinstown Road at 9:00 AM Thursday, August 12, 2021 to be available for public viewing. The family will receive friends from 12:00-2:00 PM Thursday at the church. Her funeral service will follow the visitation at 2:00 PM Thursday in Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Terry Coe and Rev. Glinard Lawson. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. In the current Covid environment, it will be required that all attendants to the service and visitation please wear masks while inside the church building. Due to Dean’s love of keeping the cemetery beautiful, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 431 Jenkinstown Road, Dobson, NC 27017.  Online condolences may be made to www.gentryfuneralservice.com.