Jessie Lester (ââ?¬Å?J.L.ââ?¬Â?) Stacks, 56, passed away to be with his Heavenly Father on May 17, 2013. He was in the loving company of his family at Hospice of Wake County.

J.L. was born in Mooresville, NC, on September 7, 1956, to the late Clyde Wilson Stacks and Gertrude Autry Stacks. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Jean Lancaster Stacks; his children, Claudia Elizabeth Stacks, Parker Wilson Stacks, and David Yaroslav Stacks; his brother and his wife, C.W. and Leslie Stacks; and by his sister and her husband, Vickie and David Shallcross. Also surviving J.L. are Jean's family, Claude Dillard and Annie Rebecca Lancaster (parents), Ginger Shields (sister), Beth and Mark Caraway (sister and her husband) and numerous nieces and nephews.

J.L.'s life was epitomized by strong character, gentlemanly behavior, and an unwavering integrity that he believed was obtainable by all. He loved peopleââ?¬â??family, colleagues, friends, and strangers alike. In his professional life, his constant endeavor was educating himself so that he could best serve his clients. He treated life itself as an open-door classroom, and he felt responsible to others for the trust they placed in himââ?¬â??a trust he always fulfilled.

J.L. was an interesting, multifaceted man. Raised in Davidson, NC, he graduated from North Mecklenburg High School. He was an outstanding athlete who for three years played #1 on the tennis team of his Alma mater, Florida Southern College. J. L.'s success led him to reach the finals of the NC Adult Closed Tennis Championship in 1985. After graduating from Florida Southern College with a B.S. in Business Administration where he was elected into the Omicron Delta Kappa Society, J. L. pursued his love of tennis by becoming the head tennis pro at country clubs in Birmingham, AL; New Orleans, LA; Gainesville, FL; and Raleigh, NC. Always a student of people, he developed friendships with club members that led to his second career in the financial sector. J.L. joined Robinson-Humphrey in 1988 and was invited to join Scott & Stringfellow in 1994 to help form its Raleigh, NC, office. He obtained the designation of Accredited Asset Management Specialist and was named a Senior Vice President with Scott & Stringfellow. In 2008, an Advisor Board was created at Scott & Stringfellow, and J.L., known for his unwavering ethics and integrity, was chosen to serve on that board.

After his tennis career, J. L. developed a love of golf. He enjoyed a competitive 18 holes of golf, and the camaraderie with his friends at the 19th hole, especially at North Ridge Country Club. J.L. had many close friends, who describe him as someone likely to pop up anywhere, anytime, doing any number of things efficiently and with a purposeââ?¬â??and always with a smile demonstrating his love of life and his belief that it is important to be with people and experience life together. He is deeply missed, remembered with love, and has left an indelible mark on all those who knew him.

The family would like to say a special thanks to UNC hospital oncology staff, Rex Cancer Center, Rex Hospital, nurses and staff, and especially Dr. Jeff Crane, his oncologist as well as his friend.

J. L. had desired to personally write thank you notes to all of you who not only took care of him with gifts, cards, texts, and meals, but also those who looked after his wife and family while he was battling his illness.

The family will receive visitors at Renaissance Funeral Home at 7 pm on Monday, May 20. A service of worship and celebration of J. L.�s life will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, May 21, at Grace Community Church, 6561 Meridian Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27616. The service will be conducted by the Rev. John Ulrich, the Rev. Murry Haber, and Chris Sasser.

The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, any memorials be directed to the Missions Fund of Grace Community Church, or to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC, 27607.