John E. Lister

John Edward Lister, the son of the late Alfonzo Sr. and Emma Lister, was born on June 15, 1931 in Eastern Shore, VA. He passed away February 15, 2015 after battling a long-term illness. John received his grade school education in Eastern Shore, VA. His family then relocated to Brooklyn, NY where he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. He then relocated to Philadelphia, PA where he joined the United States Air Force. He married Beverly Moses on September 13, 2003. They lived in Delaware. John worked as a bus driver for the Athletic Department at Delaware State University and R&H Bus Services for disabled children. His hobbies were automobile mechanics, fishing, crabbing and watching his favorite football team, the Redskins. He was well known for lending a helping hand. John's dear mother was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1975. She faithfully served Jehovah God until her death in 1993. John was instrumental in helping his mother attend the meetings at the Kingdom Hall and annual conventions. He also started to study and learn what the Bible really teaches. The desire of John's heart was to become a dedicated and baptized one of Jehovah's Witnesses. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother, Alfonzo Lister, Jr.; in-laws, C. Susie Moses and William Louis Smith and brother-in-law, Levon Moses (Spider). Left to cherish his memories are: his wife, Beverly Moses-Lister; sons, Joseph Lister, Bernelcy Butler (Pea) and John Butler (Big); sister, Jean Purnell; aunts, Emma Drisco, Rosa Watson and Isadora Simms; uncle, C. Eddie Smith; brothers-in-law, Solomon James Moses, David Moses and Alvin Kearse; sisters-in-law, Beatrice Vanessa Farrar and Maxine G. Sloan; daughters-in-law, Mabel Mitchell and Latasha Johnston; stepchildren, Richard Kearse (Ricky), Crystal Lee, Sheila Alston, Samuel Butler (Bird), Wanda Johnson, Alton Butler (Tweet), Melvina Butler; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and cousins. Also to be included are Frances Smith, who John considered to be his own mother and Josette Scott-Lewis, who John treated as a sister; Robert Fields II, Gregory Summers, Dennis, Jovan & Sheldon Banks and Throrris Summer, who John considered as his own child and special friends, Robert Mapp, Alice Jackson-Boggs and Geneva Topping. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John E. Lister, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

John E. Lister

June 15, 1931 - February 15, 2015