Josephine O. Foster
February 1, 1934 ~ May 21, 2015
Josephine O. (Dempsey) Foster, 81 of Monrovia, passed away the morning of Thursday, May 21, 2015 at CMC-Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was born February 1, 1934 in Hope, Arkansas to the late Alton T. and Mary (Kindrick) Dempsey. At the tender age of 14 she was married to the love of her life, Oliver Dewitt Foster whom she loved and remained devoted to until her own death; Oliver preceded her in death on May 22, 1991.
A devout Baptist, Josephine was a faithful member of Corinth Baptist Church in Martinsville for many years. Together, Oliver and Josephine owned and operated Florida Patio and Specialty Builders, Inc. in Indianapolis for many years. She enjoyed writing poetry and songs and was a correspondent for the Martinsville Reporter for a number of years. She was honored to be chosen as a Grand Marshall for the Monrovia festival parade; in April of 2003 Josephine was honored to receive an award for Older Hoosier of the Year.
Four years ago, Josephine made the decision to leave her beloved Morgan County to live with her loving daughter, Cherlynn in York, South Carolina where she enjoyed the warm southern weather and sitting out in her little courtyard, watching the fishpond, and her four Yorkies.
Survivors include her Daughter and Son-In-Law, Cherlynn D. and Kenneth W. Coley of York, South Carolina; four granddaughters, Angelisa Dyer, Brandi Flanigan, Shannon Bonham and Stacie Bartley and several great grandchildren. Josephine was also preceded in death by her son, Ronald L. Foster; Daughter-In-Law, Charlotte Foster; grandson, John A. Foster, and her five brothers and sisters.
Family and friends will gather for visitation in the chapel at Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service & Crematory in Mooresville from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27 at the funeral home with burial to follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Hall. You are invited to visit www.CarlisleBranson.com where you may sign the online guest registry and leave a personal message for Josephine’s family.
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Absolutely Beautiful, This was my Aunt Jo, I loved her so much, she will be truly missed.
We will meet again one day….we love you Jo…xoxo…the Mitchells.
Sandy Mitchell sent a virtual gift in memory of Josephine O. Foster
Remember visiting Jo in her home and it was filled with love. She was an encourager to me and to a lot of others. So sad that her journey here is done but I know it will only be a short while we can all see her again with our Lord! Keith Gray Martinsville
Rest in Peace. I am so glad that she was able to spend the last of her life with her love ones and the beautiful south. I knew her from the Reporter when I worked there. She was very talented and worked with inspiration.
Josephine for several years covered our Eminence Alumni Banquet with pictures and her writings. Jo always made sure we had front page coverage in the Reporter. On April 19, 2007 the Eminence Alumni presented Josephine with a Honorary Alumni Diploma at our 50th Banquet. Trying to retrieve that picture from Sheri Sloan. Rex and I felt honored to met Josephine and work with her on this project for many years. I enjoyed reconnecting through facebook and enjoyed her comments and postings. Will be greatly missed. Martha and Rex Rhea
Josephine was a faithful follower and great encourager of our music. She once wrote quite an article with a brief history of each of us in the band including pictures and our accomplishments. She was a faithful devoted servant of Christ and even after I moved to Florida she kept in touch with me. I will miss you Jo, but I know where you are. Thank you for your love and encouragement.
The Memories I have of you JO the article that you wrote about my journey to India, it was that day that we became friends and you were a great encourager of my Ministry. I will never forget the day that you and Tiki came to my church I was so honored…You will be greatly Missed and your love will go on forever……Jonie Allison
I met Jo through her Martinsville Reporter columns and we became friends through letters, emails and Facebook. She was a dear person and know she is enjoying her final reward. Prayers and thoughts to her family.
I have had Jo in my life for she was a great friend we would talk for hours on Facebook and she alway prayed with me words can’t say how much I loved Jo and how much I will miss her and our talks I know it’s a sad time for her family and friends but we all know she is happy and in no pain now RIP Jo love you and will miss you but you will never be forgotten to her children your in mine and Jd thoughts and in our prayers my son Johnny call Jo grandma Jo he sends her and you all hugs
I met Jo when I quit my job at the Holiday Inn Pyramids and came back down to Monrovia to care for my first love and then–ex-husband Dave Hadley…Dave had had his book THE RAINBOW SEEKER published and Jo came to interview him for the paper..He so enjoyed talking to her and she wrote a beautiful article on he and I …After that she wrote several on our kids at various times..She and a friend came to visit Dave frequently at the lake and after his death I sorely missed their visits…She was always complimentary, sweet and kind..I loved her and was so glad to finally found her again on Facebook..She will be missed but FOREVER REMEMBERED.. love you Jo, and when you see the Rainbow Seeker up there, tell him ‘OLE WHATSERNAME ‘ still misses him…
I loved my Aunt Josie very much. Uncle Oliver and Aunt Josie would come to Texas to see us when we were little. So glad Jimmy and I spent the day with her. I am going to miss her endearing why she loved me.
I have had Jo in my life for a very long time she was always there to talk to me in person and when she moved we talked on Facebook she would always pray if I asked her to my son called her grandma Jo he would always talk to her on FB and he would send her hugs and kisses I will miss my dear dear friend and will love her she will never be forgotten love you Jo RIP we no your happy now your in heaven to her family your in my thoughts and prayers your mom was a great great lady who will be missed by meany
Jo Foster, what a special Lady. Our families go back a long ways. I remember my Dad use to work as a sales rep for Jo & Oliver when they had the Florida patio business. I remember going with Dad as he followed ‘leads’ to people’s homes who had expressed an interest in purchasing a patio cover. Jo was a devoted friend to both my parents. When my Mom was in the nursing home shortly before her death, Jo would take time to go sit and visit with Mom during the day while my sister & I was at work. I will never forget her kindness and caring ways. I know she is smiling that beautiful smile now that she is reunited with her loved ones in Heaven. Much love to you, Jo. Louann (Griffith) Lloyd
Jo, As I grew up new to a whole new world of love and Christianity you were the first to show me love in a dark world we showed me companion you showed me love Johnny and you were my best friend growing up you write about me in local newspaper of young man of the day and it touched my heart I will always miss you and it breaks my heart that I could not attend your funeral today my heart saddens that I will never hear your sweet voice again or have our talks on Facebook you were the kindest soul I ever met you were the closet thing that I knew to a real grandma you will always be in my heart and thought I will truly miss you and I will always love you may your glowing spirit bring happiness to GOD and everyone in heaven for as it did hear on earth to every one you came into contact with Love always James knue II
To my dear friend-she shared my memories to all of us and her smiles!!!!Love you Jo
I have been best friends with Kathy for about 60 years so I am sure I have met Ms Jo at some time in those years. I am so sorry for you loss..May she rest in peace with all the members of the family who are greeting her in Heaven.
Great lady..always so nice..meet her through her neighbor Bettie Kemp..thoughts and prayers are with her and her family
Dear ‘Miss Jo’ I will forever miss your sweet smiling face, We would visit for hours at a time, I came over and you walked me through your house and you showed me all your babies, and you tried to teach me how to make the clay babies, and you wrote all those articles on ‘Miss Alma’ her paintings and her loom…We worked on the festival together you were always so interested in the history of Morgan county…Now you and ‘Miss Alma’ can visit for hours. I love you ‘JO’ Vivian Lee
Even though we lived in the same town, I had never met Josephine. However, this time last year, as my husband battled cancer, Josephine saw the Facebook page I set up for family and friends to keep updated on his journey and she started following his page. She posted so many nice messages of encouragement and prayers to his page and through private messages as well. She didn’t know either one of us but she reached out to us- complete strangers and prayed for my husband and our family during a horrible time in our life. I’ll never forget that simple but sweet act of Christian love. I know she is rejoicing with our Lord right now. I would like her family to know that my husband and I are praying for you during this time. Jerry and Penny Edward Martinsville
My computer died the same day Jo did. I loved that woman for her strength in the Lord, her optimism and her great love for her family. She is now at peace and reunited with her loved ones. God rest her soul.
I remember sitting in the waiting room with her while Johnny was in the emergency room. She picked up her coffee and I noticed her fingernail was bronze. ‘Nice color’ I thought. A few minutes later I noticed her fingernail was green–thought’ I really have to get a grip..’ After Johnny was OK I discovered her nails were alternating, bronze & green. Slight proof I was not crazy, but so typical of her. Miss you MOM.
Gracie Parker sent a virtual gift in memory of Josephine O. Foster
Your spirit is free and has flown heavenward. Will miss you terribly, but so happy you are home with Jesus and your loved ones who have been waiting for you. Rest in Peace my dear friend, know you were loved by many and will be missed by all who knew you.