Celester (Stone) Rutland

Celester “Lester” Rutland went to be with the Lord on February 27, 2022.

Lester was born Mary Celester Stone on May 30, 1936, in Cope, S.C. to the late John Chester Stone and the late Lula Zeigler Stone of Jamison, S.C.  She was the eldest of 5 children. Lester attended the Orangeburg Nursing School and had a career as an administrative assistant at Sears, Greenwood Mills and The Methodist Home, prior to owning and operating The Jewelry Box for over 20 years with her husband. She was an active member of the Alpha Omicron Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon woman’s sorority and held the office of state president in 1979.  She was a member of First Baptist Church of Orangeburg and the Couples Class Sunday School.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years Edgar Cecil Rutland, Jr.; daughters, Melissa (Michael) Burke of Hoover, AL, Sheila Murphy of Ravenel, S.C.; grandsons, Lester (Amanda) Murphy of Ravenel, S.C., Austin Burke of AL and a great-grandson William Murphy.

Memorials may be dedicated in her honor to the Shrine Hospital for Children, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, S.C. 29605 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel.  Rev. Ryan Tucker will be officiating.  Burial will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens, 4830 Columbia Road, Orangeburg.

The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30 P.M. on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel prior to the funeral service.

Pallbearers will be Mark Wilson, Anthony Lyons, Danny Smoak, JW Smoak, Dana Rickard, and Chuck Nichols.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Jimmy and Sue Plunkett, Jimmy and Melva Martin, Charles and Kathy Stoudemire, Tommy Ashley, Tommy and Betty Ulmer, Charles Goodwin, Robin Sandifer and Michael Sandifer.