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Hersel Lee Best, Sr. was born February 11, 1930, to Kenneth Thompson, Sr. and Mollie Berry in Wake County, North Carolina. He was raised in the loving home of his adoptive mother, widow Minnie Wellington Best. He attended school in Green County, North Carolina.

In 1945, Hersel met the love of his life, Jeanette Barnes. Hersel's mother loved to spoil him with gifts and one of those gifts was a car. His best friend did not regularly have access to a car, so Hersel agreed to drive him on Sunday afternoons to see his girlfriend, Inez. Inez's sister Jeanette caught Hersel's eye immediately. It was love at first sight. They married in 1947 and resided in Stantonsburg, North Carolina until 1955 when they moved to Brooklyn, New York with their three children.

Hersel was an excellent provider, working as a conductor with Amtrak Railroad for thirty-seven years. He ensured the train stayed on schedule and operated safely on his route from New York City to Washington, DC until he retired in 1992. Hersel and Jeanette celebrated seventy-four years of marriage before she departed this life on September 29, 2021.

Having accepted Christ in July 1942, at the tender age of twelve, Hersel loved the Lord. He was affectionately called Deacon Best by the members of First Church of Wyandanch, NY during his many faithful years of service and beyond. After moving to Charlotte in 2004, Hersel joined Northside Baptist Church and served in the capacity of deacon, choir member, and visitation ministry for the sick and shut in. He well earned his reputation for helping others, having a kind heart, and being humble.

Hersel entered into eternal rest on Monday, November 18, 2024. Left to cherish his memories are his daughters, Mary Ann Lamb, Carolyn Buford (Howard, Sr), and son Hersel Best, Jr; six grandchildren, Lisa Armbrister (Dwayne), Sean Lamb, Holly Bryant, Monique Lide (Jermaine), Howard Buford, Jr (Delphine), grandchildren; sister Jacqueline Smith; brothers-in-law Moses (Thelma), Nathaniel, and Jasper Barnes, and sisters-in-law Minnie Hall, Mary Lois Newsome, and Edith Barnes; and a host of nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his siblings, Abernathy "Shug" Wellington, Edward Lee Herring, Kenneth Thompson, Jr., Lizzie "Peggy" Woingust, William Paul Smith, and Thomas Jacob Smith; and son-in-law, James C. Lamb, Sr.