Della Foster Obituary

Della Foster, ""Mama Della'', age 107 born October 29, 1899, died Saturday, December 23, 2006. A resident of New Orleans, Louisiana and mother of the late Thomas James Franklin. Grandmother of Vanora Franklin Legaux, Shelia Marie Franklin of New Orleans, Louisiana and Karen Franklin Williams of Alexandria, Alabama. Mother-in-law of Drucilla Franklin of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Beloved Aunt of Ernest Franklin of New Orleans. Also survived by 5 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is also survived by her extended family Billy, Jack, Anuald and Mary Ann Hebert. Relatives, friends and members of Union Bethel A.M.E., Stronger Hope Baptist, Believer's Remnant, St. Mark Missionary Baptist, Churches, Employees and residents of C.J. Pete Housing are invited to attend the services Thursday, December 28, 2006 at 11:00 AM at the Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, 6175 Scenic Hwy., Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Rev. Bland Washington, Pastor; Rev. Thomas B. Brown Jr. Officiating. Visitation 9:00 AM at the church. Interment Southern Memorial Gardens. Arrangements: Miller & Daughter Mortuary

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Published by The Times-Picayune on Dec. 27, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Della Foster

13 Entries

LeNora Weatherspoon

January 10, 2007

I thank God for allowing Mamma Della to come to Alexandria and be with Karen. She was a blessing to all of us that spent time with her. She was a 107 yr. old comedian and she will and is truly missed. Thank you Karen for sharing your Grandmother with us all.

Howard Storey

January 10, 2007

I am truly glad that you have shared such a wonderful testimony. I am sadden that you have had to experince the loss of an loved one. Call me if I can do anything for you.

Cena Lewis

January 9, 2007

What a beautiful lady. Our loss is truly Heaven's gain. I thank Karen so very much for the opportunity to have met Mama Della and for the wonderful stories and updates on her life and times. "Don't you let no man......."

Karen Williams

January 7, 2007

I want to share some of Mama Della's last eleven months…. What a journey we had…. !!!

I was privileged to so many stories of her 107 years on this earth. I often reminded her how Joshua in the Bible lived to be 110 years old before GOD called him home. (She would laugh and say that is really old.. like 106 wasn’t). I’m sure that some days she didn’t think of herself as being old.

When I think about her being 106 years old when she had to have surgery for an appendix under general anesthesia this past February, I realized she came from good stock… and the angels were watching over her. The Physicians were all amazed at the stamina and her quick recovery. She never asked for pain medicine during her stay in the hospital. Through it all she managed to thank all who help her when she was discharged from the hospital. Of course I was told by Mama Della to follow up with a letter to thank everybody who helped her. (Do you remember when people wrote letters and not emails?).

Oh, if I had time I could write a book about the stories she shared these past 11 months. She would tell stories as thought it was yesterday. One of the most detailed story she told was when she was a teenager and how she joined church wearing a yellow dress that she made. I told Mama Della that was 90 years ago…she told me I know but I still remember that dress… it was beautiful… I remember joining church that day…

Another thing Mama Della enjoyed was our singing hymns together as I braided her hair. She liked signing and I liked playing the keyboard while we sang. I remember I had gone to get new strings on my guitar and she asked where I had been. When I told her to get new strings on my guitar she wanted to know what was that, so I gave her the guitar and told her how to hold it and she began to strum a tune. We laughed about that and I told her I have to get a picture because no one would believe her strumming the guitar at 106 years old….

Mama Della other favorite thing were having her nails painted. She had pretty hands I thought…They did not look like old hands… A friend painted her nails red… and after she finished Mama Della looked at her nails with her good eye and her bad eye (she would always tell me she had one good eye) and said this is too loud of a color… She wanted a pink color… well.. I reminded her she selected the red color for her nails… She looked again with her good eye and her bad eye and said well I changed my mind, I want pink. Well Ms Foster I said you will get pink nails….

Another great memory is the day I helped Mama Della get into the bathtub. I left her sitting in her Tub-chair bathing, while I checked on dinner in the kitchen. When I went back into the bathroom to help her with her bath, Mama Della had water all over the bathroom floor. She decided to wash her hair on her own and by herself. So she thought she was rinsing her hair with the tub hose but she was wetting up the floor too. I couldn’t believe my eyes… water was everywhere and on everything. Lovingly I told Mama Della “it is a good thing you can’t get down on your knees… look at all this water on the floor.” Mama Della never stopped rising her hair… She was determined to get the soap out of her hair and I was determined to help before we both drown. WOW 106 years old and washing her hair in the tub.

Mama Della loved plain ice cream (Vanilla) as she called it. Each night we would eat a bowl of ice cream. She never stopped telling me how good this ice cream was during the entire time she was eating. I loved it too until I noticed I was the only one gaining weight so we went to the little cups of ice cream. She would eat two and I would eat one cup. Sometime we had homemade pound cake to go with the ice cream. Mama Della would ask if I made the cake…I sure hated to tell her no…but I couldn’t pull that that off for I was afraid she may asked what I put in the cake so I always told her someone else made it for her.

I thanked GOD so often for her presence even today knowing that she has been called home…for I knew I was being blessed by having her with me… I shall never, never, never forget the prayers of Mama Della. We prayed each day. Sometimes we recited the Lord’s Prayer and sometime the 23 number of Psalms together. But none was as precious and piercing as when she would pray her own prayer. Mama Della would call GOD’s name like she knew him in person. She would say “Lord”, and then pause..(Several times I thought I heard him say “Yes, Della”) I love you and I thank you for being so good to me!! When she would begin to praise him all I could do was to wait for GOD’s presence to fill her room…she knew how to thank GOD for everything and never stop saying how good GOD was too her…

I shall never forget the many, many stories she shared good and bad ones for they all made her the Mama Della that we all came to know…. A woman that walked with GOD and GOD walked with her…. Thank you for 107 years…..

Your granddaughter,
Karen

June Marshall

January 5, 2007

I had the pleasure of meeting Mama Della at a church service in her honor that I was invited to by Vanora...I was amazed at her complete awareness and presence at this gathering... I have never forgotten her. My thanks to Vanora for sharing her with us. Many Blessings to the family.

Linda McRath

January 4, 2007

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet Moma Della, she was truly an angel sent from above.
I enjoyed talking to her and the laughter she shared. Thank you Karen for sharing Moma Della.

Geraldine Howard

January 1, 2007

I met Mama Della when she turned 100 years old. Over the next 7 years, the times that I had a chance to talk with her were amazing. She was like the grandmother I never knew. Her wit and laughter will forever be remembered in my heart. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you.

Wanda Route

January 1, 2007

May the Presence and Power of the Lord continue to engulf each of you with His Love, comfort, peace and protection.
My prayers are with you!

LaVonda Johnson

December 28, 2006

Heart felt sympathy goes out to you and your family Karen. I too have never met Mama Della, however the stories you tell of her....What a wonder and honor for all of you.

Lisa Holden

December 27, 2006

I never met Mama Della and know only of her through my dear friend-her granddaughter, Karen. I feel as if I knew Mama Della personally because of all the wonderful stories I've heard.

May your hearts be comforted in knowing that she is resting with the Lord. All of your good works in caring for her will be rewarded as well by our Father in Heaven.

I love you all and lift you up in prayer.

Jack Hebert

December 27, 2006

Della was truly a diamond among gems. She worked for my family
before I was born. Ever devoted,
faithful and loyal, she was truly
a member of our family. I could
write volumes about Della and they
would all be about her goodness!

Monique Malone DeGruy

December 27, 2006

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well-lived.

Lola Adetona

December 27, 2006

Sheila, Grace and Family,
We were so sorry to hear about the passing of Mama Della. She was a great joy to be around. Sheila and Grace, thank you for sharing her with us especially on her 106th Birthday. It was absolutely awesome to watch her read each card aloud WITHOUT EYE GLASSES! That day she was like a kid in a candy store deciding which gift or card to open next. We thank God for her life and for giving you all so many great memories of her. May we all live up to her expectations by putting God first in our lives. May the Comfort of the Almighty God be with you now and forever.

Sincerely,

Pastor Gabriel & Lola Adetona

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