Atha Montressor Foster, Jr.

Mr. Atha M. Foster, 80, of Biloxi, MS, left us on Friday, September 26, 2008, to be with his loving wife of 55 years. He suffered a massive stroke. Mr. Foster was preceded in death on May 31, 2008, by his wife, Elizabeth Foster, his parents, Atha and Lou Ella Foster, brothers, Granville Foster, James "Chops" Foster and Larry Foster and great-grandchildren. Atha was born April 10, 1928, in Maben, MS. After serving with the U. S. Navy he returned to Mississippi and began his studies at his beloved Mississippi State University. While attending State he married the love of his life, our mother, Elizabeth Jo Foster. They married June 25, 1953. He received his Masters degree in education and started his teaching career with the Biloxi Public School System. He taught U. S. History and Government many years before retiring from the Biloxi Public School System. "Pop", as we called him, could often be found offering his many words of widsom to his family. He volunteered countless hours helping the Disabled American Veterans organization and holding numerous offices at the state and local levels. "Pop" attended Popp's Ferry Baptist Church in Biloxi. He is survived by his children, Michael D. (Barbara) Foster, Rodney L. Foster, Anita (Rick) Denham, and James "Barney" (Naomi) Foster; a sister, Winnie (Joe) McCaskill of Oxford, MS; his brothers, Paul Foster of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Don Foster of Westpoint, MS; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Funeral services will be held Monday, September 29, 2008, at 12:30 p.m. at Braddord-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue, in Biloxi where friends may visit from 11 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in Biloxi National Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Mr. Foster's grandsons, Derek Foster, Robert Foster, Jonathan Foster, Daniel Foster, James Foster, and James Still. The family prefers memorials be made to Popp's Ferry Baptist Church, 2000 Popp's Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS 39532.