Rita J. Foster

Rita Lois Johnson was born on October 7, 1947, the fourth child born to the union of Earline and Harold Johnson Sr. of New Orleans, Louisiana. Rita stayed in New Orleans for her education where she attended Booker T Washington High School. She later pursued a degree in education at Dillard University where she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and then received her Master's in Administration at Southern University.

She went on to have two daughters, Deanna and Ebony with her first husband. She married the love of her life, Joseph W. Foster Sr., on July 25th, 1981, and became the bonus mom to Makisha and Joseph Jr. In this union, they also welcomed their youngest daughter, Germaine.

In 1969, Rita relocated to Tacoma, Washington to begin her teaching career with Tacoma Public Schools. While in Tacoma, she was a charter member of the Eta Mu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. After three years, she made her way back home to serve the community in which she was raised. She was a middle school science teacher at Gretna Junior High and went on to become principal at L.W. Higgins High School and Cuillier Career Center. Rita’s impact was not only felt in the classroom, but she mentored and motivated young ladies by coaching volleyball and the dance team. After an incredible 41 years in education, she retired in 2010.

Rita’s impact on people's lives extended well beyond the schoolhouse and left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered. Despite her calm and inviting spirit, those that knew her will often say, “Mrs. Foster don’t play”. Her relationship with God was the driving force in how she lived her life and the expectations she upheld for her family and friends. She loved so deeply that her commitment to her husband, children, and grandchildren was unwavering until her last days.

Rita was a member of St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church for almost 40 years, during that time was a member of the choir, Trustee Board, the Scholarship Ministry, and a Vacation Bible School teacher where she continued to nurture her passion for education.

Rita was called home on June 25th, 2023. Her parents Earline and Harold Johnson Sr., her uncle Claude Johnson and her aunt Lula Doplemore, preceded her in death. To cherish her memory Rita leaves her husband Joseph W. Foster Sr, and her five children, Deanna, Ebony, Germaine, Joseph Jr.(Christy), and Makisha(Sean), her five siblings, Harold Jr. (Patricia), Yvette, Claude, Debbie (Curtis), and Gilda, her nine grandchildren, Denaé, Toi, Shaw, Asher, Sawyer, Joseph III, Jumanne, Kya, and Sage, and 1 great-grandchild. She will greatly be missed by a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00AM on Saturday, July 8th, 2023, at St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church, 6223 6th Avenue in Marrero, Louisiana. A visitation will begin at 8:00AM and continue until the service time. Rita will be laid to rest, following the Funeral Service, at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Metairie, Louisiana. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WestsideLeitzEagan.com for the Foster family.