In the 1920's, Robert Dan Jester and his wife, Estell Jones Jester, began Robert Jester Mortuary. Robert Jester was born on October 2, 1889 in Mitchell County and married Estell Jones on February 10, 1917.
Robert Jester, Sr. was drafted in 1917 for World War I where he served in a segregated unit with the rank of Sergeant with the 54th Company of the 157th Deport Brigade until the war ended, November 11, 1918. Robert and Estell Jester had four children: Thelma Jester Carroll White, John Auldon Jester, Robert Jester, Jr., and Mary Ester Jester Follings.
Robert Jester was a lifelong member of St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church in Camilla, Georgia, where he served on the Steward Board and was a trumpet accompanist in the church choir. St. Peter AME Church, itself, has history going back to 1861, the year that the Civil War started. Robert Jester had only a seventh grade education, but with an active intellectual curiosity he was well read, did math calculations very fast and took correspondence courses in electricity specializing in small appliance repair just for a hobby. He was interested as well in firing ceramics. Robert Jester, Sr. saw that all of his children and grandchildren went to college for the importance of education was greatly valued and emphasized.
Robert Jester was a trained plasterer, but after WWI he studied and passed his Georgia State Board of certification test, the State Board of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia and thus received his funeral director and embalming license. His wife, Estell Jester also received her license as a funeral director. The Jesters were assisted by their lifelong friend, George Elliott, also a licensed funeral director. At one time Robert Jester even offered ambulance service as so many of the funeral homes of that time did. The funeral home changed locations in 1927 to Lincoln Street after first opening on Brimberry Street in Camilla, Georgia.
Jester Funeral Home always offered a quality and dignified service to all. Robert Jester built the vaults, caskets, and his wife, Estell, sewed the linings in the caskets. The Jester's generosity also extended further to the black community by helping other blacks get their start in the funeral business as in Arlington, Blakely, Cairo, Donalsonville, and Pelham, Georgia.
On January 21, 1971, Robert Jester, Sr., died at the Mitchell County Hospital, a block from his home. His grandson, William "Billy" Carroll, who had taken over the business in 1958, continued the family owned business on Lincoln Street.