Mrs. Valcinia Lester

Valcinia Marie Lester, 73, passed away on 11 November 2023 at home in Raytown, MO. She was born on 30 October 1950 in Kansas City, KS to Theodore and Georgia Drew Boyd. Valcinia grew up in Kansas City, KS, where she graduated from Washington High School in 1968. Upon graduation from high school, Valcinia attended Penn Valley Community College where she met her future husband, Larry Lester. She transferred to Kansas State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in 1972, and later a Master of Education from the University of Missouri in 1973. Upon graduation, she joined the staff at the newly built F. L. Schlage High School for 1183 students in Kansas City, KS. Valcinia taught there for 10 years before becoming Food Service Director of the Kansas City Kansas District #500 Board of Education. After 26 years of serving the educational community, she was forced to retired in 2001 due to the deterioration of her health from multiple sclerosis. In 1976 Valcinia and Larry were married by Rev. T. Maynard Preston at Eighth Street Baptist Church, Kansas City, KS, where she was superintendent of the Sunday school department. They were married for 47 years. Valcinia was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA). At ABWA, she served briefly as president of its Success Unlimited Chapter. Valcinia enjoyed cooking, sewing and watching movies. Val was preceded in death by her parents Georgia and Theodore Boyd, and daughter Marisa. Val is survived by her spouse Larry, her daughters Tiffany and Erica Lester. And her brothers Reginald Boyd, Sanford and Norman Clardy, sisters Pamela Boyd, Sabrina Boyd, Garnice Robertson, Tina Carter and Veronica Boyd. Also survived by a son-in-law Charles Collins and grandchildren Naomi and Oliver Collins, plus a host of other relatives, colleagues and dear friends. In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations to be made to the National MS Society at: https://donate.nationalmssociety.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=511&language=en Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, 11am at the Linwood Chapel. Interment Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10am-11am at the chapel. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website.

Mrs. Valcinia Lester

October 30, 1950 - November 11, 2023