Eleanor Lavern (Johnson) Foreman

An only child, Eleanor was born November 23, 1926 to Dowan & Jeannette Johnson.

Eleanor was a native of Louisville, Kentucky. Eleanor graduated with honors in the upper quartile of her class and was in the last graduating class of Central Colored High School. Eleanor then attended Louisville Municipal College and Bellarmine College where she studied English and Business Law. She then attended Indiana University and the University of Illinois where she studied Financing, Reality Specialist and Negotiations, going on to become the first African American Woman to be a Negotiator for the United States Army Corp of Engineers.

Eleanor founded and managed a Real Estate Company known as Eleanor L. Foreman Realty located at 2304 West Broadway. Eleanor along with her agents at that time made a difference in the community. She served as President of the Realist Association, which is the African American brother to the Realtors Association. The realist association was formed out of necessity, because African Americans could not be members of the Realtors Association. From this embarrassment and rejection came an offer for Eleanor to join a white owned company, becoming the first African American to become an associate Realtor. Being a first, made life a difficult, but through determination and perseverance, Eleanor paved the way for many doors to be opened.

Eleanor held many positions, including Negotiator / Reality Specialist for the United States Army Corp of Engineers, traveling though Eastern Kentucky, Indiana and areas of Ohio and Illinois. Her duties included negotiating with landowners, corporations and anyone who had land previously owned by the Federal Government. She was the first African American to serve as Hostess for Career Day Celebrations at the Corps and the first female African American to be President of the Union Local 852 with over 1,000 members, where she received the highest civilian award from the Federal Government. She was also the first African American female to become Chairman of the Federal Credit Union and first to sit in on the Commander in Chief’s Corp Staff meetings.

Eleanor served eight years as President of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Louisville section which was involved in many legislative platforms involving women helping women to sustain growth, broaden vision, and extend services to all in having greater advantages in special areas of women. The NCNW sponsored health fairs for five years, providing information to the public on various health issues and hosted seminars on Civil Rights, Sexual Harassment and political issues surrounding remedies for all women to be treated fairly and equally under the law.

Eleanor was instrumental in bonding with the YMCA Tutorial Program providing NCNW membership with the fulfillment that Dr. Bethune’s legacy would be carried out. She served on the Child Watch Program sponsored by Metro United Way which helped her to become aware of the violence through youth. Eleanor carried that burden and made it known to become a message for churches and other organizations that she belonged to for their help in volunteering their services.

Eleanor was President of the Bourgard College of Music and Art, where she was determined to keep African American and other children aware of the arts and learn to excel on different instruments that the school had available.

Eleanor served for over 20 years as a judge for the 4-H Club University of Kentucky extension for their annual speech contest. She was also a volunteer for the LG&E project, for a year, to help benefit NCNW. Eleanor also served as a judge for the Brown and Williamson Cool award, The JC Penney Golden Rule Award and many other projects where helping others was beneficial.

Eleanor served as Vice Chair for the Kwanza Program for the Festival of Trees and Lights and has been instrumental in helping to raise over $700,000, for Kosair Children Hospital. She has served on many boards such as eight years on the Louisville Urban League Board and also the Urban League Rebound Board, where houses were built in the Russell Area to encourage home ownership, Metro Child Watch Care Board, the African American Strategic Planning Committee alongside Darryl Owens and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.

Eleanor was very active in her sorority, the Delta Sigma Theta Alumnae Chapter, where she served as Parliamentarian for four years and was formerly the President of the organization and was instrumental in the Sorority purchasing their own property and served on the Delta Service Center Board. She was a lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Louisville section; a member of the American Business Women Association and was a Kentucky Colonel for many years.

Eleanor was also served on the following boards where she was either an officer or member: The Elder Serve, Inc., Vice Chair; The Ohmsted Parks Conservancy Board; The Bourgard College of Music and Art, President; The International Training in Communication; Louisville Zoning Board, Chairman; Vice Chair of the Kwanza with the Festival of Trees and Lights; Corresponding Secretary & Life member of NCNW; Louisville Urban League; the YMCA; The Rainbow Coalition; and Canaan Community Development Center.

Eleanor received many awards in recognition for her service. She was honored as a member of the Hall of Fame by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (Realtist); Kentucky Colonel; The Bethune Community Service Award; The Business and Professional Women, (River City) Woman of Achievement Award, City and State; Key to the City, Louisville, Afro American Hall of Fame; The Women in the Bethune Tradition, Indianapolis; The Congressional Record for the First Associate Realtor, Kentucky; The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and many others.

Eleanor was also active in many churches across Louisville including the Lampton Baptist Church, where she served as President of the Female Usher Board and was an active member for over 40 years. She sang in the Senior Choir and served as the Women’s Day Chairman and Church Anniversary Chairman and also as a Trustee.

Eleanor was also involved in the Portland Memorial Missionary Baptist Church.

Eleanor, when she had time, was reading, working cross word puzzles looking at soap operas or was learning new dance steps.

Eleanor is preceded in death not only by her parents, Dowan & Jeannette Johnson, but also her husband James Foreman; One Son. Wilbert “Skip” Hayes, III, who passed earlier this year.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Jeffery L. Hayes and Lloyd P. Foreman; 3 Grandchildren, Centoria L. Hayes, Ryan P. Foreman, Michael A. Hayes; several great grandchildren.

Plus a host of relatives and friends to mourn her passing.

Funeral Services will be conducted on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 2:00 pm in the Evergreen Funeral Home Dignity Chapel with entombment in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the hour of service on Thursday also at the Funeral Home.