Lou Annie Foster

Lou Annie (Smith) Foster, age 104, passed away Wednesday, October 29, 2014 in Jacksonville, Florida. Born Lou Annie Walker, on July 24, 1910, on a farm In Genoa, just north of White Springs, Florida, the fifth of nine children born to Robert and Rhoda (Skinner) Walker. The family lived in Florida for a number of years, then moved to a rural area just N.E. of Valdosta, Georgia, called Cat Creek. In her late teens, she went with her older siblings to the square dances at Bemis, Georgia. She played an old pedal (or pump) organ in a band comprised of several musicians. In late 1920s, Lou moved to Jacksonville. She worked in a millinery shop selling hats. She redecorated hats that weren’t selling in order to make them more attractive, and was recognized by the executives in New York offices for applying her skills. She later owned and operated a restaurant and a boarding house in Riverside Area. In the 1930s her brother introduced her to his friend, Bill Smith, from Valdosta, Georgia, who was then a local contractor. Funny coincidence, Bill had played fiddle at those same square dances in Bemis Georgia. They were married in 1938 and the following year their only child, Betty Louise was born. In 1941 they became active members in the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Around 1943, Lou received permission from the pastor and the PHC headquarters to organize the first Women’s Auxiliary in Florida. It is now known as the Women’s Ministries. She was also a licensed Mission Worker and ministered in hospitals, nursing homes, jails, and prisons around the state. In 1945, the Smiths bought a farm in Bryceville, Florida and enjoyed the animals, hunting, and fishing. They returned to their Avondale home in the late 1940s. Her hobbies were cooking and sewing. Lou could cut out a pattern and sew a dress for herself or her daughter in no time. She loved to entertain in her home in Riverside and later Avondale. In 1962, Bill Smith died and to cope with the loneliness in the evenings, she worked at the old St. Luke’s Hospital as a nurses aid and continued there for ten years. In 1971, she married Rev. J. Paul Foster Sr. who had been widowed. A pastor in the Jacksonville area, he continued to pastor and she played the piano in church until late 1980s when they retired. Lou was widowed again in 2002. Lou will be missed dearly by her loving daughter Betty Louise Wilson; grandsons Robert M. Wilson (Kim) and Scott A. Wilson Sr.(Sheila);great grandchildren Shawn Hutson (April), Scott A. Wilson Jr. (Sarah), Shannon Asuncion (Bryan); great-great grandchildren Alexa, Brayden, and Kyler. Family will receive friends and family 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Sunday November 2, 2014 at Hardage-Giddens Town & Country Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida 32205, www.townandcountryfuneral.com. Funeral services will be 10:00 am Monday November 3, 2014 at the funeral home with Reverend Bascom O. Smith Jr.and Chaplin Jeff McCrosky officiating. Interment will follow the services at Riverside Memorial Park.