Rev. Dr. Carolyn Bellamy Lester is being inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame for her dedication in obtaining her degree and following her calling into ministering to her community.
Carolyn was an alumna of the class of 1966. In high school she belonged to several clubs: Theta Sigma Nu, Tri-Hi-Y and Psi Kappa Gamma and was in Drama Club for a year and on library staff her junior year. She won both a shorthand and typing award also her junior year.
Carolyn worked for the State of New York for 31 yrs, in the Departments of Parks and Recreation, and in Health.
Carolyn earned her BA degree from RPI and MA in Pastoral Studies from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. She was ordained in 2006. She earned another Masters in Divinity and a Doctoral in Ministry and Transformational Leadership from Colgate Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, NY in 2010. While in school she was the President of the Black Student Caucus and recipient of the Martin Luther King Fellows scholarship.
While a minister, she gave the sermon at the 2014 Genesee Baptist Church Pastor Appreciation Sunday service and spoke at the Friendship Day ceremonies at the Penfield United Methodist Church in 2016 to name a few. Her LinkedIn Profile contains so many endorsements they are too many to list.
Carolyn was nominated by Karen Garhartt ’72, with Carolyn’s brother David Bellamy and sister Pearl Haggary. Carolyn passed away last year at the age of 69. She was predeceased by her husband, Lenon, father Oscar Bellamy, Jr., and siblings Melvin and Pamela. She is survived by her mother Carrie Bellamy, two sons, Stefan and Aikee Lester, 3 grandchildren, and siblings Noris Vines, Oscar III, Ronald, Pearl Haggary, Darlene Thomas, Leslie Fiol, Derome and David.
In her yearbook her ambition said “To adjust my life so that I can make the best of my capabilities.” She certainly lived up to that.
Pearl Haggray, her sister Darlene Thomas, and brothers Oscar and David Bellamy accept the award for their sister, Rev. Dr. Carolyn Lester, posthumous. Karen Troxell Garhardtt '72 nominated Carolyn with Pearl and David.