{{Coord|32.0569|-81.1001|display=title}} {{Infobox company | logo = | logo_size = | name = Lester's Florist | former_name = | type = Florist | image = | image_caption = | owners = Lester Anthony | foundation = August 1971 | defunct = {{end date and age|2022|p=yes}} | founders = Lester Anthony | spokesman = | location = 2100 Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia, U.S. | key_people = | industry = Floral design | genre = | products = | revenue = | profit = | operating_income = | income = | num_employees = | num_locations = 1 | num_locations_year = | homepage = [https://web.archive.org/web/20220210011149/https://www.lestersflowers.com/ www.lestersflowers.com] }}
'''Lester's Florist''' was a florist located in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Established in August 1971, it provided floral arrangements for the presidential inauguration galas of consecutive U.S. presidents. Owned by Lester Anthony for all of its fifty years in business, it closed in February 2022.
==History== Lester Anthony began his floral-design business in the garage of Louise M. Jones<ref name=tribune/> in 1971 with, he states, $200 to his name.<ref name=smn>[https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2022/02/08/lesters-florist-closes-savannah-ga-ronald-reagan-george-hw-bush/9302418002/ "From a garage to designing flowers for presidents, Lester's Florist closes after 50 years"] – ''Savannah Morning News'', February 8, 2022</ref> He remained there for five years.<ref name=tribune/>
After receiving a loan from Rev. Nathaniel Boles (1934–2021),<ref name=tribune/><ref name=boles>[https://www.sylvaniafuneralhomes.com/obituary/reverend-nathaniel-boles "Reverend Nathaniel Niles Boles of Savannah, Georgia | 1934 - 2021 | Obituary"] – Sylvania Funeral Homes, Inc.</ref> minister at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Savannah, Anthony moved into his first retail shop, at 2226 Bull Street, in 1976.<ref name=tribune/>
In January 1985, Anthony was asked to design a floral arrangement for the inauguration gala of the 40th United States president Ronald Reagan. He was asked to do the same in 1989 for Reagan's successor, George H. W. Bush. He attended both events,<ref name=smn/> and was the only black designer on each occasion.<ref name=tribune/> At the request of the Society of American Florists, he and the other floral designers contributed to a story written for ''The Washington Post'':<ref name=smn/><ref>{{Citation |title=Black History Month Profile: Lester's Florist of Savannah |date=2022-02-01 |url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/black-history-month-profile-lester-s-florist/38949785 |access-date=2023-07-06 |language=en}}</ref>
{{blockquote|I came just for the experience of doing something different. I knew it would be something I wouldn't witness for a long time.<br /><br />— Anthony, in an interview with ''The Washington Post''{{'}}s Carla Hall<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/01/19/now-blooming-at-the-armorythe-secret-life-of-300000-flowers/05477e94-4a8d-4c7f-8280-c33e5bc24c44/ "Now Blooming! At the Armory! The Secret Life of 300,000 Flowers"] – ''The Washington Post'', January 19, 1985</ref>}}
In 1989, Anthony constructed his own store, a single-story building at the southeastern corner of Bull Street and 37th Street, a block north of his previous location. It cost around $500,000.<ref name=tribune/>
For the fiftieth anniversary of his business, on August 9, 2021, a celebration was held. Attendees included former mayor of Savannah Edna Jackson, while incumbent mayor Van Johnson awarded Anthony the Freedom of the City as a long-time Savannah Business Leader.<ref name=tribune>[https://www.savannahtribune.com/articles/lesters-florist-celebrates-50th-anniversary/ "Lester’s Florist Celebrates 50th Anniversary"] – ''Savannah Tribune'', August 18, 2021</ref> Rev. Nathaniel Boles, who had given Anthony a loan in the early days of his career, died eight days later at the age of 86.<ref name=boles/>
Anthony put his parcel of land on the market a couple of years before he decided to retire, but it did not sell until January 17, 2022.<ref name=smn/>
==Lester Anthony== thumb|Anthony was music director at Savannah's First Bryan Baptist Church for 46 years Lester Anthony was born in Savannah, Georgia, the third child of ten to James and Beatrice (1927–2000). His brothers were Dr. James Jr., Battiste and Leroy; his sisters Yvonne Smalls, Margie A. Colson, Catherine A. Moore, Louise, Eleanor and Jeanette A. Harper.<ref name=smn2000/> He was later fostered by Mary Matthews (1922–2017).<ref name=tribune/><ref name=sylvania2017>[https://www.sylvaniafuneralhomes.com/obituary/4443914 "Mary B. Matthews of Savannah, Georgia | 1922 - 2017 | Obituary"] – Sylvania Funeral Homes, Inc.</ref> By the time of his 72-year-old mother's death, on February 29, 2000, all ten children were still living. She also had sixteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.<ref name=smn2000>''Savannah Morning News'', March 1, 2000</ref>
He graduated Alfred Ely Beach High School in 1971, the year he started his business.<ref name=tribune/>
Anthony attended the South Florida School of Floral Design in Lakeland, Florida, to learn the art of floral-design. He graduated in 1972.<ref name=tribune/>
In August 1985, he graduated with two degrees in floral design from the Hixson School of Floral Design in Lakewood, Ohio.<ref name=tribune/>
He received his master's degree in floral design in 1993 from the Phil Rulloda Southern California School of Floral Design in Anaheim, California.<ref name=tribune/>
Anthony's foster mother, Mary B. Matthews, died on November 15, 2017, aged 95. She is buried in Savannah's Laurel Grove South Cemetery,<ref name=sylvania2017/> beside the grave of deacon James Barnes (1895–1981).
Anthony is a former minister of music at Savannah's First Bryan Baptist Church, having served in the role for 46 years.<ref name=tribune/><ref name=smn/>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{official|https://web.archive.org/web/20220210011149/https://www.lestersflowers.com/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lester's Florist}} Category:Florist companies Category:Companies based in Savannah, Georgia Category:American companies established in 1971 Category:American companies disestablished in 2022