Bobbie Carpenter Foster, age 87, of Cornelia, passed away on Monday, April 5, 2021.
Born on April 12, 1933, in Gainesville, she was a daughter of the late Roy Lee and Lorena Boling Carpenter. Bobbie’s musical career began as a young girl when she played the piano for church services at Oakwood Baptist Church in Hall County. She and her siblings sang gospel music in churches and auditoriums throughout the southeast, including at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and recording for RCA Victor.
Prior to Mrs. Foster’s marriage to John Foster on March 23, 1958, she graduated from Piedmont College and began teaching at Chestatee High School, followed by Tennille High School, Clarkesville Elementary, and South Habersham High School. Mrs. Foster earned her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Georgia.
In 1961, Bobbie and John purchased WCON Radio Station. She worked alongside her husband as co-owner and operator of WCON and Habersham Broadcasting. She received multiple awards from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015. Together they built a longstanding family legacy.
Mrs. Foster served as the organist at Level Grove Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Sandersville before becoming the organist for First Baptist Church of Cornelia, where she served for 58 years. She was a member of Level Grove Baptist Church. She was a longtime member of the Cornelia Kiwanis Club and the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair Board. She also served as a board member of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters.
Her passion was serving God, her family, and music, and she had a long life well-lived.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Gene Dalton.
Survivors include her loving husband of 63 years, Senator John C. Foster, Sr.; sons and daughters-in-law, J. Clayton Foster, Jr. and Kimberly of Flowery Branch and David C. Foster and Leslie of Cornelia; grandchildren: John Clayton Foster III, Ella Foster, Katie Foster, Lexie Foster, and Taylor Hyde; sister, Betty Carpenter Dalton of Baldwin; brothers and sisters-in-law, Rev. Bill Carpenter and Martha of Jefferson and Dennis Carpenter and Mildred of Flowery Branch; along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services are scheduled for 3:00 pm on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at Level Grove Baptist Church with Dr. T. Logan Smith, Rev. Billy Burrell, and Rev. Walter Singletary officiating. A private interment will be held.
The service will be livestreamed from McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home’s Facebook Page for those unable to attend.
The body will lie in state at the church from 2-3 pm prior to the service, and the family will receive friends immediately following the service on Wednesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Level Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 416, Cornelia, Georgia 30531.
Those in attendance are asked to adhere to public health and social distancing guidelines regarding COVID-19.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.
McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
