James Neal Lester

James Neal Lester, age 58, of Darlington, South Carolina, passed away on Thursday, March 13th, 2025, surrounded by his family. His funeral services will be held at Belk Funeral Home in Darlington on Thursday, March 20th, 2025 at 5:00pm.

Born on November 30th, 1966, in Hartsville, SC, James was the son of the late William "Billy" Lester and Beverly Jefferson. He graduated from Lamar High School and went on to serve in the U.S. Army, where he proudly dedicated over 20 years of his life to his country. James also earned an Associate's Degree from Troy University during his time in service.

James met and married the love of his life, Michelle Howell, with whom he shared 38 years of marriage. Together, they raised two daughters, Nicole and Jaime, and built a beautiful life full of love and adventure. James was a passionate drag racing enthusiast and spent countless hours at The Darlington Dragstrip, where he loved to connect with friends and stay busy. His heart was also full of love for his canines—Tiny, Sandy, Larkin, Archer, and Sugar—and he cherished his time spent with them.

In addition to his wife Michelle and daughters Nicole (Matthew) McCary of Darlington and Jaime (McCrae) Jones of Elgin, James is survived by his mother Beverly Jefferson. He was also eagerly awaiting the arrival of his first grandchild, a baby boy. James's presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to K9 for Warriors.