Jack Foster

Jack Foster, 82, passed away peacefully on October 3 at his home in Demorest, Georgiaa, with his wife of 62 years, Patricia Sizemore Foster, by his side.

A private family graveside service officiated by Rev. Keith Cox of Waynesboro First Methodist Church will be held at Yonah Memorial Gardens in Demorest, Georgia on October 7th.

Jack was born at home and raised in Clarkesville, Georgia. He attended North Habersham High School, where, among other activities, he played football and was a flutist in the concert band. Following his graduation in 1960, Jack attended Massey Business College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied database administration. Upon receiving his associate degree, Jack began his career as a database administrator at Fort MacPherson, then the headquarters of the US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) in Southwest Atlanta. In 1966, he was drafted into the US Army and served in the Panama Canal Zone, which was a crucial transportation route for supplies to Vietnam as well as a jungle warfare training site. Upon his return, Jack took a position as a database administrator with the US Treasury Department in Chamblee, Ga, where he worked until his retirement in 1998.

Outside of work, Jack was an active father, husband, and community leader. Throughout his life, he was involved in the church, most recently as a member of Clarkesville First Methodist Church, serving at various times as a choir member, President of the Methodist Men’s Club, prayer group and Bible study group member, and Sunday School teacher.

Jack’s passions included music, cooking, and sports, especially University of Georgia football. He had a beautiful baritone voice and sang as a soloist and choir member in various churches, as well as the Piedmont College Community Choir. Jack lent his cooking skills to organizations such as the Cornelia Soup Kitchen and enjoyed helping serve meals there. He was a youth soccer coach for his son’s teams and could be found every Saturday in the fall watching his Georgia Bulldogs. Generally considered to be a man of few words, when he did speak out, it was often in support of children. As an elected member of the Clayton County, Georgia Board of Education in the 1990s, Jack was a staunch advocate and volunteer for child abuse programs, child and teen mentoring, and fingerprinting programs to help ensure the safety of young people. Upon his retirement, Jack helped his wife champion the Habersham Food 2 Kids backpack program (now Food 4 Kids), and assisted in ministerial programs at Lee Arrendale Prison in Alto, Ga. Most will remember him as a man with a quick grin and a chuckle, who was always happy to gift a fresh jar of jam from his kitchen to his many friends.

Jack is survived by his wife, Patricia; daughter, Dr. Terri Foster Bruce, her husband, Dr. David Bruce, and their children, Sam and Maddie; daughter-in-law, Christine Perez Foster (Greg), and their children, Jack and Henry, as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, the late Lassie English and I.N. Foster of Clarkesville, Ga., sister, Doris Smith, brothers, Claude and Kenneth Foster, and his beloved son, Jack Gregory (Greg) Foster of Marietta, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following organizations in Jack’s memory: The Cornelia Soup Kitchen, 236 Level Grove Road, Cornelia, Ga 30531 (Corneliasoup@gmail.com), Clarkesville First Methodist Church, PO Box 365, Clarkesville, Ga, 30523 (https://www.clarkesvillefmc.org/) Food 4 Kids, The Everyday Good, 358 Sunrise Circle, Cornelia, Ga, 30531 (https://www.theeverydaygood.com/donate)

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.