Susie Merritt Foster

Susie Merritt Foster, 98, of Detroit, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11th, at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Rev. Curtis Blake officiating. Burial will follow in Meadowbrook Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Mrs. Foster, the daughter of Sam & Mary Jane Holbert Newsom, was born March 11, 1916, in Lamar County. She married Robert Lee Merritt, and he preceded her in death on July 5, 1967. She later married George Hubbard Foster, and he preceded her in death on October 2, 2008. Mrs. Foster was also preceded in death by a son, Charles J. Merritt, a granddaughter, Mindy Farris, a nephew whom she reared as her own, Rufus Lee Merritt, and all her siblings. She worked at Reeves Restaurant in Paris a number of years before moving to Garland in 1966. There she began working at the Resistol Hat Factory where she remained until retirement. She was a member of Hillcrest Missionary Baptist Church and for the last several years attended Victory Baptist Church with her family. Survivors include two daughters, Sue Whitley & husband Russell of Detroit and Kathy Sanders & husband Donald of Paris, a nephew whom she reared as her own, Donald Bob Merritt & wife Patsy of Pattonville, a daughter-in-law, Fredda Merritt of Garland, grandchildren, Fred Merritt, Robert Merritt & wife Jett, Melanie Davis & husband Logan, Donnie Nelson & wife Kristi, Roger Nelson & wife Melanie, Janie Smith & husband Ken and Dorenda Sanders, fifteen great grandchildren, one great great grandchild along with several nieces & nephews. Casket bearers will be: Donnie Nelson, Roger Nelson, Fred Merritt, Robert Merritt, Justin “Jay” Nelson, Jonathan “Duke” Nelson, Dillon Nelson, Allen Nelson and Josh Stevens. Honorary bearers will be: Jesse Stevens, Conner Smith and Aaron Wayne Nelson.