By Shayla Terry

After over 20 years of serving Crenshaw County, Holley Lester bids the field of education goodbye.

A Luverne native, Lester graduated from Luverne High School and obtained an English degree from Troy State University.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher in the third grade,” Lester said.

“I would always play school. In the summertime, I couldn’t wait for the fall to return to school.”

After being a stay-at-home mom for 15 years, Lester became active in education by joining the Crenshaw County School Board as the first female member.

“It was a passion of mine that all kids receive a quality education, and I thought the school board would be a great way to serve,” Lester said.

Lester served on the Crenshaw County Board for 12 years, and was also chairman on the board at one point.

After leaving the board, Lester began a 10-year teaching career at Luverne High School teaching junior high reading and ninth through 12th grade collaborative special education.

“Of course I will miss the kids the most,” Lester said.

“Waking up every morning and being a part of their lives was a great way to give back to the community.”

Lester has spent her whole life in Crenshaw County, and says it’s just something that gets in your blood.

“It’s more than just everybody knowing and helping you,” she said.

“I know that inside I never really wanted to go anywhere else.”

Lester is not quite sure what she’ll be doing with her new abundance of time, but says she’ll still serve the community.

“I kind of have to rediscover myself, but I won’t be put out to pasture,” she said. “It will be like a siren song come the fall, because I can’t image life being a perpetual summer.”