Joseph Foreman

Happy heavenly birthday daddy. Love april

To the family of Joseph Forman. Please accept my sympathy for your loss. Joe was a kind and thoughtful person with a wonderful spirit.

Dear April Foreman Williams and family,  

My deepest condolences on the passing of your beloved father and family patriarch Joseph Foreman. I pray that the peace of God will comfort you at this difficult time of bereavement. 

April, although we've never met, Joseph was always effusive in expressing his deep love and respect for you, his divine family, and especially his grand and great grandchildren.  

We met in 1963 as Freshman at Dillard University in New Orleans, La. We were roommates and we loved our alma mater. We both graduated with degrees in biology. He went on to become an educator in Chicago and I went on to work for the Department of Defense. 

We remained best friends for over 59 years. I will always remember him warmly as a brilliant man of deep faith, who loved Church, music and family. He was a true gentleman, caring, kind, dapper and an outstanding educator who loved teaching children of color. 

April, I recognize that each day is a gift for us but I wasn't ready for your call with the sad news of his sudden yet peaceful passing. I've been thinking of him often and looking forward to our regular phone calls with long chats and lots of laughs. 

Riverboat Joe (as he was affectionally known), without you things will never be the same. But there is a higher power that we answer to. And you heard Him calling your name. I'm really going to miss you, my buddy, my friend. I promise you my love for you will never end. Rest with God and the ancestors in eternal grace. 
Sincerely,
Claiborne D Haughton Jr. 
Former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Equal Opportunity.