Nellie Brown Foster
Nellie Brown Foster also known as mommy, grandma, auntie, sister, and nicknamed Stella was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica on May 7, 1950, to the late Dolores Williams and Gersham Brown. She exhibited supreme culinary skills in the kitchen, a talent she learned from her mother. Miss Del was also known for her quick wit and sayings to match every circumstance. She’d start by saying, “mamme” and “mi mada always used to seh”, before giving her advice and for emphasis, she’d end by saying “If you don't have nothing good fi she, don't say nutn at all!”.
In 1972 she married the late Winston Foster in Canada but sadly she parted ways with her husband and returned to Jamaica. Back home, like many Jamaicans, she was a fish vendor alongside her mother at the Charles Garden Market. From there she worked as a cook in Half Moon Hotel before coming to the United States in 1979 to join her sister Pearline.
She worked at Baxter Laboratory and was a Mary Kay consultant. She returned to the skill she loved, which was cooking. (My grandma was the best cook). She enjoyed Carnival and often was a food vendor in both the Cambridge and Boston Carnivals. She also worked as a chef at a shelter in Dorchester on the weekends. No one wanted to leave for fear of missing her scrumptious meals. “Miss Nellie is in the building, we gonna be eatin right?” was chorused by many. She enjoyed watching families eating heartily as they devoured her meals.
In Boston, Nellie provided a home for her children, her brothers, sister, and in-laws as they too later made the journey to America. It was a true family home with many generations. Nellie then met and fell in love with Frank Douglin. They were together for many blissful years and shared their passion for traveling. She loved to travel, especially cruising the Caribbean and Europe. She had such wonderful stories of the places she had been and the people she had met. She would say, “mi Madda always say, wherever you go make a friend’’ and that is evident here today. Look at all of you beautiful folks who consider my grandma a friend.
OBITUARY
Nellie Foster was preceded by her son Clive Cleghorn, her mother Deloris Williams, her father Gersham Brown, her sisters Dib, Ventres, Jean and Joann, her brother Sidona Gordon, and her beloved Frank Douglin.
She was the mother of Maria, Susan, Angela, Michael, and the late Clive mentioned above. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Cheyenne, Ariel, Arianna, Sadae, Chelsea, Brianna, Taylor, Jaiden, Talia, Micah, and Matai. Her sisters Pearline, Sandrene, and Norma and her brothers; Samuel, Charles, Raymond, Errol, Norman, Beres and Gersham. She had many nieces, nephews, and cousins who are too numerous to mention as well as many dear friends.
To her Faith Christian church family, Nellie loved you all and her beloved Pastor Hall. You guided Nellie through her spiritual journey. We thank you for your love and support. We ask that you keep lifting us up in prayer.
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around” ~Leo Buscaglia~. This was the epitome of Nellie.
God never promised a life without pain, Laughter without tears or sun without rain. But He did promise strength for the day, Comfort for the tears and the light for the way, And for all who believe in His heaven above, He rewards their faith in His everlasting love.
~Author Unknown~
O B I T U A R Y
May H er Soul Rest In Eternal Peace !
Beloved We Love You
Our
Forever “Stella”
L O V I N G M E M O R I E S
ORDER OF SERVICE
Pastor Brenda White, Host Pastor
Officiating Ministers:
Bishop Raymond Hall & Rev. Dr. Arlene Hall, Pastors Deliverance Temple Worship Center, 232 Columbia Rd. Boston, MA
Rev. Andrew Gayle, Pastor Dominion Worship Center
Piano & Organ Prelude …………….... .................................. Family
~Processional ~ Ministers ~
Welcome...............................................................................................................................Pastor Dr. Arlene Hall
Congregational Hymn.........................................................................................................”Blessed Assurance”
Invocation........................................... .............Pastor Andrew Gayle
Old Testament……………………………..……Psalm 23.............................Ms. Ariel and Arianna Bagalue Sadae Campbell, Granddaughters
New Testament ………………..…….…Revelation 21:1-5….…........…........…................. Brittney Gordan Granddaughter
Hymn…………. ”Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Prayer of Comfort........................................................................................................................Rev. Karen Wint
Tribute in Dance..................................................................................................................Ms. Taylor Campbell
Tributes................................................................................................................................Mrs. Marvia Patterson
Ms. Genista Westfield
Obituary...........................................................................
Ms. Brianna Bagalue Granddaughter
A Tribute to MOM.................................................................................................Ms. Maria Cleghorn Clayton Daughter
Ministry in Song………………………………………….………………………………………..Minister Arriel Hall
Eulogy............................................................ ...............Pastor Arlene Opal Hall
Closing Prayer....................................................................................................................Bishop Raymond Hall
Recessional Hymn ............ “When We All Get to Heaven”
~Recessional~
Pastor Andrew Gayle
O R D E R O F S E R V I C E
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The family of Nellie Brown Foster is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support in many heartfelt ways.
A special thanks to family and friends, and our Deliverance Temple Worship Center family – who showed their love and support either through prayers and/or visits, neighbors, and even random acts of kindness from total strangers. We are forever grateful for all your encouragement.
REPAST
The repast will be held directly following the burial from 1:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Faith Christian Church Fellowship Hall
~The
Although they have passed on, Their memory forever stays. Remember how they smiled, And the joy they always gave. We'll miss them all the time, And think of them every day. Their love filled the world - A love that will never fade.
~Casey Gamble~
PALLBEARERS:
Patrick Campbell Michael Douglas
Oniel Hudson Andrew Sloley
Geoffrey White Andrew Gale
INTERMENT
Oak Lawn Cemetery 427 Cummins Hwy Roslindale, MA 02131
Foster/Cleghorn/Campbell/Williams/ Douglin Family~ Their Memory Stays
