Hosea Lester Wesley

Hosea Leaster Wesley a beautiful baby boy officially known as "Zelos" and "Wesley". He was the eighth child born to the Ucles Lester Westley and Earnestine Akins Wesley in Camden, Arkansas on July 25, 1956. Being the youngest of eight children, "To Say He Was Spoiled," would be an understatement. That little boy grew up to be school age, and that's when he began to realize that everything does not evolve around him. He attended "Union Grove School" in Camden, Arkansas from 1st grade through 7th grade. He was active in the "4 H club" where his mom was the dean leader and they won many blue ribbons at the Ouachita County Fair. Hosea accepted Christ at a early under the leadership of the late Rev. Edward Allen Porcha at St. Mary Baptist Church in Camden, Arkansas. He sang in the youth choir and was a faithful member of the Youth Willing Workers activities.



Shortly, after relocating to Bakersfield, California he attended Lincoln Jr. High School, and then graduated from East Bakersfield High School, where he excelled in Basketball. He continue his education through Bakersfield College, he also received a scholarship to attend Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, California. While attending college he had a knee injury that put a crippling holt to his basketball career. After recovering from injury, his coach and mentors encouraged him to try out for the Lakers. Hosea cherished the experience he had with Magic Johnson, in that very tryout. Through the years he has the opportunity to meet with Magic Johnson several times.



Hosea worked several jobs starting with Kern County Park and Recreation for the city of Bakersfield a number of years. He found his gift working with children and youth at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center, specifically, the gym, coaching basketball while mentoring teen boys and girls. He also worked as a supervisor. He remained close friends to two of the young men he mentored at that time. Christ Childs and Joey Porter, they would visit each other several times a year, in or out of state.



Hosea's sought his career when he accepted a position with the Kern County Superintendent of School District in the Security Department for over 21 years. He was still able to mentor teens and give them sound advice. He worked at many different High schools, East Bakersfield High School, Ridgeview High School, Stockdale High School and Highland High School as a Security Patrolman where he met many people, who became lifetime friends, until his pasting.



Because, of his passion for the Lord he became a member at St. John Missionary Baptist church under the Leadership of the Late Rev. Tyree Toliver and remained a active member. There he remained a faithful member and each time greeted you with a big smile. Hosea will be dearly missed because of his smiling face, cooking, camping and fishing, and domino with family and friends.



Hosea was preceded in death by his parents; Ucles Lester Wesley and Earnestine Akins Wesley; brothers, Earnest Lee Wesley and Joseph Leaster Wesley; sister, Bertha Lee Goshen; nieces, Sabrina Frazier and Rashawn Seaborn; nephews, Donald Rabion, Timothy Goshen, and Derrick Gibson; great nephew, Tarik Wright and Brother-in-law, Claude Frazier.







Hosea Lester Wesley leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Lenora (Wossie); daughters, LaTisha Wesley, Kimberly Wesley and Jenna Wesley of Bakersfield, CA, Lacey Anders and husband Keith Anders of Salt Lake City, Utah, Laney Rogers and husband Eric Rogers of Springwood , Missouri; sons, Vincent Harris and Dwayne Wesley of Bakersfield, CA; brothers, Walter Samuel Wesley and wife Shirley Wesley, sister, Mattie Lee Jones all of Denver, Colorado, sister, Ethel Wesley Frazier, Mahalia Wesley Smith and husband Odell Smith, and Roxanne Wesley Harris all of Bakersfield, CA; Willie Ray Wesley and wife Totsie Wesley of West Memphis, Tennessee; brother-in-law, Artell Goshen of Camden, Arkansas; Extended family, Eugene Tenison of Lincoln Park, Michigan; Cora Dean, Faye Spears, Terry Tenison and Nadine Tenison all of Bakersfield; grandchildren, Bryson Rufus, Amari Rufus, Faith Alexandra, Kiarra Williams, Jeffery Shelton III, Vincent Harris Jr., Keaira Harris, Dwayne Wesley Jr., Gabrielle Wesley all of Bakersfield, CA; and a host of nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.