Lesley Custus Obituary

Custus, Lesley Alberta Was born in Boston (Roxbury), Massachusetts on September 19, 1934 to Leslie Alberto and Mary Pyburn. Named after her father, Lesley was the oldest of "The First Triumvirate," Lesley (Boots), Rosina (Tudy) and Jane.When Lesley was sixteen, her mother had "The Second Triumvirate," Gayle, Linda and Peter, so Lesley was blessed with four sisters and one brother. At the age of two, the family moved to Harlem, New York where Lesley grew up.Eventually, she would move in with Oscar and Brunett Reese, affectionately known as Aunt Brunett, who became her foster mother. At eighteen, she travelled to Chicago to reunite with her father where she met and married Madison Trenton Benson. This union was blessed with four childrenthe "4 Ks"- Keith Anthony, Kenneth Joseph, Karen Yvonne and Kirk Matthew Benson. Lesley settled in as a homemaker and the family resided in Marynook on the south side of Chicago. Sadly, this marriage ended and the family moved to Hyde Park in Chicago to begin a new adventure.Lesley worked as a teacher's aide during the day while attending college at night to complete her bachelor's degree in education. She received her B.S. in Education from DePaul University (1973) and began a new career as a teacher for 2nd through 4th graders with the Chicago Board of Education. Lesley married a second time, this time to Lawrence (Larry) Gaylord Custus. She, along with son Kirk, moved first to San Francisco and later to Hercules, California. Not afraid to blaze new trails, Hercules was then such a new community there were no signs for it on Interstate 80. Lesley embraced her new family becoming a stepmother to Larry's adult sons: Gregory, Bernard, Carlton, and David Custus. Lesley's passion in life was teaching. Having grown up poor, she was a role model for many of the students she taught in the inner city. She motivated her students to believe in themselves no matter their circumstances. As with her own children, she inspired her students to take responsibility for their lives ("God Bless the Child That's Got His Own"), to strive to be their best (no excuses) and to always value education. She also loved painting and her artwork always adorned the walls of her home. Lesley later returned to Chicago ending her teaching career in Chicago.She did some substitute teaching in Clayton and Henry Counties after moving to Stockbridge, Georgia to escape the harsh winters in Chicago. Celebrating her life are her devoted children: Keith (Lovell), Kenneth, Karen and Kirk; two grandchildren, Nicole Ashley and Johnathan Joseph; four sisters: Tudy, Jane, Gayle, Linda and her brother, Peter; four stepsons: Greg (Marianne), Bernard, Carlton and David; her friends of sixty years, Dr. Joan and David Hill, and a host of friends, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Lesley departed this life on August 15, 2011. Private memorial services will be held. Condolences can be left at www.southcarecremation.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to one of two organizations. Please send donations to: In memory of Mrs. Lesley Custus, 1) c/o Sacred Journey Hospice Foundation, 138 Peach Drive, McDonough, GA 30253 (678) 583-0717, or 2) there is a Tribute/Donations Page at www.themmrf.org or c/o Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT, 06851, (203) 229-0572. Please include your name and address so the family may acknowledge your donation.Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation Society and Memorial Centers in Stockbridge. (770) 692-1181.