Joyce Whisnant Foster

Joyce Whisnant Foster, of Wilmington, NC, and formerly of Winston-Salem, NC, left this earth for her heavenly home on July 11, 2011 with her family by her side.

She was born on February 13, 1929 to Robert Isaac Whisnant and Annabelle Fleming Whisnant, in Winston-Salem, NC where she lived until moving to Wilmington in 2009

She graduated from Mineral Springs High School. She was employed by Prudential Insurance Company-Mortgage Loan Department, where she met her future husband in 1950. She was later employed by Gray and Creech, Inc., and was a legal secretary for 35 years. During those 35 years, she worked for William Z. Wood, Sr., J. Clifton Harper, Richard Badgett, and William Z. Wood, Jr.

Joyce was a faithful member of Northwest Baptist Church (formerly North Winston Baptist Church) in Winston-Salem, NC, where she had been a member for 59 years. There she taught Sunday School and served in several different capacities for many years.

Joyce also enjoyed her YMCA senior water aerobics group and rarely missed walking at the mall.

Joyce was a loving mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and friend to all. She made everyone she encountered feel loved and special. Her home was warm and welcoming to all who entered.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband of 59 years, Kenneth E. Foster, daughter Courtnay F. Chase (Tim), and the lights of her life, her three grandchildren, Nicholas, Alexandra, and Christopher, all of Wilmington, NC. She is also survived by special family members, Earl Parker of Winston-Salem, NC, Catherine Parker Anderson (Larry) and son Seth of Oak Island, NC, Elizabeth Parker Horton (Dan) and children Megan, Patrick and Parker of Lexington, NC. She is survived by a brother in law, Roger Nichols of East Bend, NC, and numerous nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters: Hazel Parker (Ed), Sue Nichols, Jean Fishel (Winfred); and by her brother Bill, and her twin brother Robert (Bob). She was also preceded in death this year by a special family member, Mary Kirby Parker.

The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Pine Valley Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Thursday, July 14, 2011 at Northwest Baptist Church, 407 Petree Road, Winston-Salem, NC. The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Forsyth Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Northwest Baptist Church.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the caregivers from the Powers family group, and from Home Instead, and also to New Hanover Regional Medical Center Palliative Care Team, the Staff of the 7th and 8th floors, Dr. Jim McCabe, Dr. Mary Rudyk, the physicians of Cape Fear Heart Associates, and the physicians of Wilmington Health Infectious Disease. We would also like to thank our numerous friends who cared for us and prayed for us during this difficult time.

Published in the Wilmington Star-News on July 12, 2011