Janie Marie Wells Foster, 91, of Birmingham, Alabama died on Sunday, September 16, 2018. She was born at home in Campbellsville, Tennessee on May 8, 1927, the youngest of seven children born to Oscar and Nancy Wells.
Mrs. Foster married her high school sweetheart, James D. Foster, on October 19, 1946. They settled into a happy married life and in the next several years welcomed the birth of two children. Mr. and Mrs. Foster lived in Tennessee and Arkansas, finally settling in Birmingham, Alabama where Mr. Foster was an owner and President of Roberts & Son, a printing and office supplies business.
Mrs. Foster was active in the Church of Christ and, in 1960, she and Mr. Foster were founding members of Shades Mountain Church of Christ in Bluff Park, Alabama. Mrs. Foster taught both children’s and women’s Sunday School and was very active in the life of the church. One of the highlights of Mrs. Foster’s life was travel to India that she and her husband made on behalf of her congregation.
Mr. and Mrs. Foster imported horses from Peru and Mrs. Foster often enjoyed riding in horse shows, oftentimes along with her granddaughter. Entertaining was a special joy for Mrs. Foster and she often hosted events in her home. She was a gifted seamstress and particularly enjoyed the neighborhood sewing circle of which she was a part for several decades. She had a great appreciation for the preservation of the antebellum house, Arlington, in Birmingham and for many years acted as a docent and sharing the history of the house with visitors.
Mrs. Foster is survived by her daughter, Judith Foster Reese (David) and son, James Philip Foster (Gail). She also is survived by a granddaughter, Jillian Reese Smith (Richard) and a grandson, Brian Patrick Foster. She was preceded into death by her husband, parents and siblings.
In thanksgiving to God and celebration for Mrs. Foster’s full life, there will be a visitation on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 10:00 am in the chapel of John Ridout’s Mortuary-Elmwood, 800 Dennison Ave., SW, Birmingham, AL 35211. A private burial service will follow the visitation at 11:00 am for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make memorial donations to Shades Mountain Church of Christ or to the charity of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18