The Life and Legacy of Mr. Cornelius Dewey Foster

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul

Cornelius Dewey Foster was born February 24, 1941 in Bryant, FL, the sixth of nine children to Willie and Lucy Maxey Foster. He attended the Pahokee area public schools and graduated as valedictorian and president of the student council in 1958 from Lake Shore High School in Belle Glade, FL. Following high school, Foster attended and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL in 1962. Upon graduating from FAMU, he briefly taught science classes at his school alma mater and later joined the Progressive Finance Company as a loan officer.
Foster and Mary Lawson were married in November, 1963. To this union were born two children, Cornelia "Connie" and Corey. They are the proud grandparents of two adult granddaughters, Y'jori and Andreneica, and two great grandchildren, Marcel and Laila.
In 1966, Foster founded Foster Bail Bond and operated as an independent, Black owned business until his health forced him to leave the day to day operations to his son, Corey. During his professional career, Foster was affiliated with the Palm Beach County Bail Bond Association where he served as president. He was a member of the FL Surety Agents Association. As first Black owned bank in Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Lakes Bank, Foster served as a board member for a number of years. He was a member of the Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce and participated in Leadership Glades.
Foster accepted Christ at an early age at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of Bryant, FL, now United Baptist Church of Pahokee, FL. In the early sixties he joined the St. John First Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. J. B. Adams, where he served as chairman of the deacon board for many years. He served in a number of church auxiliaries including the Brotherhood, Sanctuary Choir, Sunday School teacher, Trustee Board, Finance Board and teacher and committed attendee of the Greater South Florida Association.
For more than thirty years he held dear to his heart membership in the Gent's Club where he served as Presidents for several terms. He participated in many in service projects including scholarships for at-risk students, community Easter egg hunt, back to school supply give-away, family picnic, Mother's Day BBQ

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Sammie Lee Foster, Helen Hester and Willie Pearl Johnson; grandparents, Jasper and Minnie Maxey; sister-in-law, Willie Pearl Robinson; brothers-in-law, Willie Lawson, George White and Adolphus Hester.

He leaves to cherish fond memories his loving and devoted wife, Mary Foster; children, Cornelia (Walter) Walker, and Corey (Carolyn) Foster; grandchildren, Y'jori (Charles) Morris and Andrenica (Mark) Holifield; great grand-children, Marcel and Laila Morris; siblings, Delores White, Vaughn Grant, Clinton Foster, John (Margaret) Foster and Myrtle (Anthony) Sheffield; sisters-in-law, Anna Boddie, Hazel Lawson, Cynthia Cosby; brothers-in-law, George (Berthina) Lawson, John (Gloria) Lawson, and Herman (Bettye) Lawson; He also leaves a host of loving family and friends.


The Order of Worship Service

Rev. Lionel F. Camel, Presiding

Final Glance

Processional

Invocation.............. Rev. Michael Collier

Scriptures
Old Testament........... Rev. Jeffrey Byrd
New Testament........... Rev. Dariel Smith

Selection........... Sanctuary Choir

Reflections/Tributes

Greater South Florida Association............ Rev. Charlie Reese
St. John 1st M B Church........... Deacon Robert Oneal
The Gents Club.......... Bro. Al Royal
Remembering Dewey........... Sis. Anna Boddie
Video Tribute
Selection............. Sanctuary Choir

Resolutions
Lake Shore c/o 1958........... Sis. Mary McCarthy
Church Clerk........... Sis. Mary Washington

Acknowledgements Butts Memorial Chapel Staff

Eulogy Rev. Robert Rease

Recessional