Birth date: Mar 10, 1940 Death date: Nov 25, 2025
Lester Francis McDaniel, Jr., 85, a man whose life was stitched together with music, craftsmanship, and deep love for family, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2025. From the moment he first picked up a guitar, music became Read Obituary
What an honor to know Lester. When Lester moved to Culpeper he would stop by the office to talk about music and sports. Eventually I was invited to his house to hear him play guitar. We would talk about news, sports and alway music. He would always play and sing a few songs he was working on at the time. Those memories priceless, and I will cherish them forever.
Lester was my neighbor and a true friend. We met late in life but realized we had a lot in common. He would kid me about my Hatfield roots in West Virginia and we both had property in Jerome and family in Luray. He knew where my dad's cabin was in Wolf Gap. Lester could talk the ears off an elephant and he had an amazing memory - just sharp as a tack. When he saw me pull out of the driveway he would call my cell and say I got your attention now - where you heading girl? Then he would nonstop talk all the way down 66 for at least an hour and a half. He was a good man who loved life. He will truly be missed.
I know he is already picking and singing with the Angels. God bless him.
Shirley and Lester took me in their home off and on for yrs when my Mother was sick they both treated me like theirs. Fed me took me to school also taking me on vacation with them never forget going to Hersheypark Pennsylvania camping out,going to West Va to their families, and all of them treated me like family, but about every day when we would come home from school Lester would be playing the guitar. He would be playing bringing Mary home and it’s stuck in my mind for all these years, then Trey one day when Lester felt pretty good. I sent me a video in Lester played it for me. and I will always cherish that video. In there things you regret every time I went up north I kept wanting to go see him. It seem like it was hard to get things together to go or it seem that way one thing is it taught me ,you better see people and take time to go. See the ones that you Need to.” just one day you will regret it.Thank you Lester and Shirley for what you did for me
