Chester Newsome

Chester Newsome, age 91, of Atlanta, Georgia departed to be with his Lord on May 8, 2024.

Chester was born February 4, 1933.  He was raised on his family’s farm near Cottonton, Alabama.  Chester learned an old school work ethic growing up on the farm. He later tried hard to instill this work ethic in his own children often telling them, “If a job is worth doing it is worth doing right.” Of course, his kids rolled their eyes as soon as he turned his back, but over time the lesson sank in. Growing up Chester enjoyed hunting with his brothers and friends, and he loved his bird dogs. He and his brothers attended the one room schoolhouse in Cottonton and later Eufala High School where he graduated in the class of 1951.  Throughout his life Chester kept up with many of the friends he grew up with and they got together at least once a year for many decades.

 In the fall of 1951 Chester started college at Auburn University. He was the first person in his family to attend college. Chester took a break from college to serve in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. He was stationed in West Germany for a year and a half at the height of the Cold War. Chester loved his country and was very proud of his Army service. After leaving the military he returned to college in time to see the Auburn Tigers win the 1957 National Championship and in 1958 graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Chester then began a successful 40 plus year career in operations management that included long stretches with manufacturers Lummus Cotton Gin Company, Tom’s Foods, Donruss, Leaf and Fleer.

 Chester met the love of his life Camille Lampp in Columbus, Georgia in 1962. They married on July 20, 1963. Chester loved and adored Camille. He said many times he didn’t know what he would do without her. In 1971 a job promotion took Chester and Camille to Memphis, Tennessee where they lived for the next 38 years, raised their two sons and Chester advanced his career.

In 2009 Chester and Camille moved to Atlanta to be near their grandchildren. Chester enjoyed countless hours in the last years of his life watching his grandsons play baseball, tennis and basketball. Many baseball dads decades younger than Chester commented on his “vice like grip” handshake.

Chester is survived by his wife of 60 years Camille Newsome, two sons Jerry Newsome (Monica) and Michael Newsome, brother Gary Newsome, two sisters Gail Mullis and Janell Hebert, and two grandsons Shane Newsome and Hunter Newsome.  He was preceded in death by his parents Herman Chester Newsome and Mary McClendon Newsome, brother Don Newsome and sister Mary Ann Newsome.

A funeral service will be held 3:00 pm Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Vance Brooks Funeral Home, 4048 Macon Road in Columbus, Georgia with Rev. Mark Hudson officiating.  Visitation will be from 2:00 until 3:00 pm, one hour prior to the service, at the funeral home.  Burial will follow at Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus.  

In lieu of flowers the family requests any donations in Chester’s name made to the Alzheimer’s Association, https://www.alz.org .