Celestene Lethridge

Celestene was born October 31, 1950, in Lubbock, TX. Her parents Pearlie & Dillard Harris and Lesley Johnson, all preceded her in death along with her older sister Earlene and maternal grandparents Nancy and Cornell Scody. 

She attended Dunbar High School where she graduated in 1968 licensed in cosmetology. She briefly attended Texas Tech University, but the allure of making her own money called, and she started her career in Telecommunications.

Celest, as she was known to her colleagues, worked as a long-distance operator at Southwestern Bell/AT&T for 20+ years. She provided a clear, calm, kind voice to those needing assistance with call connections. When that season ended, she continued her service to others with her clear, calm, kind voice at the then Lubbock State School where she eventually retired as Switchboard Supervisor in 2012.

Celestene spent her retirement being more active in her church, Greater St James Baptist Church. Here, she worked with many groups, including a leadership role in the Nancy Circle Mission which was named after her grandmother. She mostly enjoyed retirement because it afforded her ample time for travel and to spend with her grandchildren. 

Stene leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 55 years Marvin Lethridge Sr.; two brothers Connie Harris and Dennis Johnson; one sister Dierdra Harris; a daughter Marla Lethridge; a son Marvin Lethridge, Jr. (Sade’); two grandchildren Maddox and Makenzie and a host of other relatives and dear friends.