Fellow soulcitizen and 2016 Funniest Person in Austin contest winner Lashonda Lester died this week as a result of kidney failure due to chronic high blood pressure. It was shortly after winning the contest in 2016 that Lester collapsed and was subsequently diagnosed with failing kidneys.
2016 was a good year for Lester as she also made an appearance on the 9th season of Last Comic Standing. In a sad twist of fate, Lashonda was two weeks away from filming her first Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents... appearance in New Orleans. She was also slated to perform this month at the annual Moontower Comedy Festival.
Originally from Detroit, Lester moved to Austin in 2004 and married her husband Dana and had a son. soulciti wrote a detailed profile of Lester in June of 2016; Lashonda Lester: Hustler First, Comedian Second.
