Ossie James Melton "Lester" Alderman, 84, of Phillipston, MS, peacefully transitioned from this earthly domain into the safe and loving arms of Jesus on Monday, May 1, 2017.

Born to Ocie and Inez Alderman on March 29, 1933, Lester confessed his faith to Jesus Christ as a teenager and lived his life humbly, walking in the ways of light and love.

He attended, and was a stellar athlete of both Morgan City High School and Mississippi Delta Junior College. He was a veteran of the United States Army, a past member of the Greenwood Fire Department, a master of engineering (without ever obtaining the degree), as well as an avid sportsman, prolific vegetable farmer, volunteer of the Greenwood Soup Kitchen, a sweet tenor and lay minister.

God gifted us with a doting husband, dad, and "Pop-Pop", who was always available with hugs, words of wisdom, and rides upon his shoulders.

He was predeceased by his parents, and a sister, Janie Eudora Collins.

He is survived by his sweetheart of 47 years, Grace Wyatt Alderman; his beloved brother, William Marvin Alderman (Eula); a daughter, Penny Lessley; and a son, Howard Alderman (Catherine), all of Greenwood, MS; daughters, Jan Alderman (Deb Myers) and Mary Connor, (John) of Memphis, TN; and grandchildren, Dr. Scott Brown (Courtney) of Longmont, CO; James Howard Alderman, Anna Katherine Alderman, and Abby Bishop Alderman, all of Greenwood, MS. He also leaves a plethora of delightfully wonderful nieces and nephews.

To further advance medical studies, and to find causes that determine anomalies of the flesh, he gifted his body to the Medical Education and Research Institute in Memphis, TN.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 o'clock in the morning, Saturday, May 6 ^th , at the Greenwood Seventh Day Adventist Church, 2906 U.S. Highway 82, where he and Grace are members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be offered in his memory to the church, P.O. Box 1724, Greenwood, MS 38930 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.

…"but now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." I Corinthians 13:13

An online guestbook may be signed at www.wilsonandknight.com .