Lester's Florist
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Floristry |
| Founded | August 1971 |
| Founder | Lester Anthony |
| Defunct | February 2022 |
| Headquarters | Savannah, Georgia , United States |
| Products | Floral arrangements |
Lester's Florist was a florist enterprise located in Savannah, Georgia, U.S., founded by Lester Anthony in August 1971. Over a span of fifty years, it focused on floral artistry, including creating arrangements for the inauguration galas of successive U.S. presidents. The company ceased operations in February 2022.
History
In 1971, Lester Anthony started his floral venture with just $200 in a garage. Five years later, he obtained financial backing from Rev. Nathaniel Boles of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, which allowed him to open his inaugural retail location at 2226 Bull Street in 1976.
Anthony was selected to craft floral designs for the presidential inauguration gala of President Ronald Reagan in January 1985 and again for President George H. W. Bush in 1989. Notably, he was the sole African American designer at both events and was featured by the Society of American Florists in an article for The Washington Post. In his interview with the publication, Anthony described this as an exceptional opportunity.
In 1989, he invested nearly $500,000 to establish a dedicated storefront at the intersection of Bull Street and 37th Street, just one block north from his original shop.
The firm's fiftieth anniversary on August 9, 2021, was commemorated with a celebration honoring Anthony’s impact on Savannah’s business landscape. Former mayor Edna Jackson participated, and current mayor Van Johnson presented Anthony with the Freedom of the City award. Shortly thereafter, Rev. Boles, who had been instrumental in Anthony’s early success, passed away.
Several years prior to his retirement, Anthony put his property on the market; it was sold on January 17, 2022.
Lester Anthony
Born in Savannah, Georgia, Lester Anthony was the third child among ten siblings born to James and Beatrice (1927–2000). He was raised by his foster mother Mary Matthews (1922–2017). Anthony completed his education at Alfred Ely Beach High School in 1971, coinciding with the launch of his business.
He pursued comprehensive training in floral design, graduating from the South Florida School of Floral Design (1972), attending the Hixson School of Floral Design in Ohio (1985), and obtaining a master’s degree from the Phil Rulloda Southern California School of Floral Design in 1993.
For 46 years, Anthony fulfilled the role of minister of music at Savannah's First Bryan Baptist Church. His foster mother Mary B. Matthews died in 2017 and is interred at Savannah’s Laurel Grove South Cemetery.