Rebecca M. Bester, 72, of Racine, was called Home by her Loving Savior on Monday, April 5, 2021. She was born on February 10, 1949 in Enterprise, MS to the late Johnny and Maggie (nee: Chambliss) Buckley. At a young age, she was baptized at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Enterprise. She relocated to Racine in 1970 where she became a member of the St. Paul's Baptist Church.

Rebecca attended Central High School in Enterprise where she was an avid learner and a star basketball player. She and her sisters would often reminisce about their beloved mother and their life in Mississippi. On July 3, 1966, she was united in marriage to Arthur L. Bester and to this union, came 2 children, Angela and Gerald. She loved her children dearly and was active in their activities and lives.

She enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She was later employed as a dispatcher for the Racine Police Department and then as a counselor and advocate at the Women's Resource Center of Racine. As a devoted member of the St. Paul's Missionary Baptist Church, she became very involved with the Inspirational Choir and served on the Senior Usher Board until she was no longer able. Rebecca was a Lifetime Member of the NAACP and worked closely with the Youth Committee, ACT-SO and drill team. She touched everyone that she met and was known as "Miss Bester" by the church and community's youth. She enjoyed traveling, going out to eat, and talking to her friends on the phone. Her favorite past time was playing bingo. She was known as having a "sweet spirit" and a "giving heart." She so loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and her siblings. She and her sisters were affectionately known as the "Old Lady Gang" or "O.L.G." On Sundays, they would gather at her home and watch old Western flicks and gospel programs.

Rebecca leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Angela (Thomas Jeff Lambert) Bester-Lambert, of Mt. Pleasant, and Gerald (Marlene Black) Bester, of Kenosha. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Treazure Bester, TreVelle Lambert, Gerald Bester II, Armani Lambert, and Jaylin Lambert; five great-grandchildren, Malia Lambert, Dasani Dyess, Lyriq Lambert, Phoenix Lambert, and Draake King; two sisters, Annie Hicks and Sylvia Dianne Dawkins, both of Racine; two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Buckley, of Chicago, and Barbara Buckley, of Beloit; special cousins, Mollie Jones and Daisy Bogan; special friends, Nancy Brinker, Zettie Martin, Melanie Bohl, Barbara Ford, Karen Heart, Robert and Cathy Gordon; Former daughter-in-law, Tonia Grandy; God Daughters, Dischone Yvette Hosey, and Felicia Wilson . She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Rebecca is preceded in death by her parents, Johnny and Maggie (nee: Chambliss) Buckley; her brothers, Johnny H. Buckley, Sam Buckley, and George Buckley, brother-in-law, Walter Ray Hicks and by a special friend/cousin, Evelyn Gardner. Her children would like to thank all the visitors, caregivers she had over the years as well as the staff at DaVita Dialysis.

Service Details

Her Homegoing Service will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, April 17 ^, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. with Bishop L.L. Kirby officiating. Visitation will be on that Saturday from 1:30 p.m. until the time of the service. Please see the funeral home website for the complete obituary.

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