02/23/2026
My dad, the Late Lester Williams is Black History. He was born in 1918 in Daleville Alabama & raised in Enterprise Alabama.
He was a pitcher for the Negro Baseball League in 1938 and was the first black person to work for American Airlines in Cleveland, Ohio. My father, an avid musician loved jazz music and was a bass drummer. He once performed with the famous jazz artist, Count Bassie. In 1941, he was drafted into the US Army during WWII, under General McArthur in the 93rd Division, 368th Infantry. During his military career, he received the "Good Cadet Medal", "WWII Victory Medal", "American Defense Service Medal", "APC Medal", "Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal" and the "Bronze Star Medal." He received an honorable discharge in 1945. My father was very well educated, full of love, wisdom and humor, but most of all....he was a devoted father & husband....committed to his family. He will always be remembered and his legacy yet remains. In the town of Red Springs, NC, at City Hall upon a monument, his name is inscribed. Continue to sleep in peace dad....until we meet again💓
