With his family by his side, Mr. Mendell Ray Chester, age 66, of Soperton, beloved husband of Darlene Morrison Chester, entered into eternal life on Thursday morning, March 15, 2018 at University Hospital in Augusta, GA.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 17, 2018 in the Chapel of Sammons Funeral Home.

Mr. Chester will be laid to rest in Blue Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.

His family will receive friends on Friday, at the funeral home, from 6:00 – 9:00 pm.

Born in Laurens County, he was one of three children born to the late Eugene Mitchell Chester and Ruth Sterling Chester.

He grew up in Laurens County and was a graduate of East Laurens High School. After high school, he began a 38 year career at J. P. Stevens Mill. For many years he worked side by side with his father as a Machine Operator. After J.P. Stevens closed Mr. Chester worked with the Toombs County Board of Education as a Bus Driver for approximately 5 years.

He was a former member at Blue Springs Baptist Church and most recently attended the Voice of Grace Church in Vidalia where he served as a Deacon for many years.

Those that knew Mendell knew that his hobby was fishing and his passion was his family. His family recalls fondly his excitement when cooking and preparing holiday meals for them.

In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Milo and Minnie Wynn Chester, his maternal grandparents, Tommy and Etta Sterling and several aunts and uncles.

He is survived by: his wife, Darlene Chester of Soperton, children, Kacey Chester Tibitts (Brandon), Rockledge, Tyler Mendell Chester (Lacey), Rockledge, Haley Brooke Chester, Soperton, his K-9 companion, Chance, three grandchildren, Zoie Nicole Tibitts, Mhalee Ray Chester, Tyler Kaite Chester, his sister, Faye Chester Palmer (Charles), Rockledge, a brother, Mitchell Chester (Debbie), Woodbury, CT, an uncle, Clifton Chester, aunts, Pearl Chester Lundy, Sandra Chester Graham, Shirley Chester Hardy, three nieces Lori Palmer Young, Leigh Palmer Oliver (Tim), Lesli Palmer Pope, two nephews, Travis Chester (Heather), Nathan Chester.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Wayne and Dusty Wynn, J. R. Hardy, Jeff Soles, Lync Pope and Colby Young.

Honorary escorts will be: Leon Dickey, Ryonn Knies, Durward Mosley and his coworkers and drivers from the Toombs County Board of Education and Bus Shop.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dream Center of Vidalia, P. O. Box 307, Vidalia, GA 30475