April 11, 1927 – Dec. 25, 2017

 

NATCHEZ — Services for Christine A. Foster, 90, of Byram, formerly of Natchez, who died Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, will be noon today at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bill Barksdale officiating.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Foster was born April 11, 1927, in Meridian, the daughter of Benjamin Ashford and Kathryn Vincent Ashford.

Christine Ashford married Louis Foster June 9, 1947, at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church in Natchez. A friend said, their love for each other was the kind you read about in storybooks.  Chris first met Louis when they went to a movie together.  She was in the eighth grade, he in the ninth grade.  They dated again a year later and all through high school. It was the typical cheerleader/football player romance. Louis enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school and was stationed in Italy for two years. Louis declined a promotion when he was informed he could not return home to marry the love of his life. It didn’t take long for the two of them to decide they wanted to be together for the rest of their lives and to set a date to marry. This decision was never regretted by either of them and they were happily married for over 70 years.

Chris loved her family, her friends and her church. Family and friends were always welcome in their home, and Chris never had an enemy. When she made a friend, it was a friend for life. She had a smile for everyone.

Chris was a dedicated employee working as secretary to the chief physician at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Shreveport, La., then Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, La. After moving to Natchez, she was secretary to the attorneys, Foreman and Truly, and then office manager to Congressman Thad Cochran. Chris also worked with the Historic Natchez Foundation and the Natchez Garden Club where she was a lifetime member. She then worked as a secretary at Stephens-Hobdy Insurance Agency until her retirement.

Casey Vincent, the youngest brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force, and Chris’ uncle, set the bar high for her when her high school teachers asked her if she would be able to achieve the grades that Casey did in high school. Following in Casey’s shadow is why Chris was a straight A student. Chris graduated in 1946, but was very active in the development and planning of the Fighting Five annual reunions.

Chris was an avid crossword puzzle solver, loved dancing and the Friday night “chapter meetings” at The Ramada Hilltop.  She will be dearly missed by family and friends

She was preceded in death by her father and stepmother, Alyne Ashford; her mother and stepfather, Paul Crouch; and one sister, Kathryn Ratcliff.

Survivors include her husband, Louis W. Foster Sr.; one son, Wesley Foster and wife, Trish; one daughter, Kathy Watkins; four grandchildren, Allen Foster, Wesley Conn, Bonnie Foster Price and Ben Conn; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Paula Crouch and Claudia Glockner; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Wes Conn, Ben Conn, Brad Fondren, Jamey Hudnall, Andrew Aiken and Forrest Foster.

Honorary pallbearer will be Ronald D. Aiken II.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Jefferson Street United Methodist Church, Pleasant Acre Day School or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Online condolence may be sent to lairdfh.com.