Mrs. Claire Bentley Foster

Claire Bentley Foster died at home on November 16, 2017.She was born February 28, 1939, the fourth of four children, on the ancestral farm in Upson County, Georgia, across from her family’s Trice Cemetery. Claire graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Thomaston, Georgia, in 1957, and from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1961. At the University, she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. In the summer of 1958, Claire served on Rich’s College Board in Atlanta and after college worked at Rich’s in the Junior Executive Training Program. Later, she worked as a teller trainer at Trust Company of Georgia and as a book store manager in Decatur. In 1979, Claire took up the family banner of genealogy and continued research in Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia throughout her life. She was a contributor to the research of several Trice and Reeves family histories and was known for her in-depth research on many family names. She also worked as a professional genealogist for people across the country and was instrumental in keeping the family farm and history together through several generations. Claire was a walking encyclopedia regarding the history of the family cemetery and her knowledge will be dearly missed by all those who sought her advice. Along with her brothers, James and Preston, she organized a family reunion in 1989 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of William Trice, their fourth-great grandfather (1789-1858), who was the first Trice in Upson County and is buried in Trice Cemetery. The reunion was held under the oaks in the farmhouse yard, with over 800 relatives from 23 states attending. Claire was a true example of Southern womanhood: a devoted wife, a loving mother and a good friend to many. She instilled her love of the farm in her husband, sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. She was instrumental in keeping the family farm and history together through several generations. Although she traveled extensively throughout Europe and often to Colorado to visit grandchildren and to Maine in Septembers, there was nowhere that she would rather be than the pastures and hills of the farmland. She yearned to return there as often as she was able and to share its beauty and history with friends. Nothing pleased her more than walking or riding around the farm to observe the calves frolicking. As a relative stated, she had a ‘true love for her cattle, most of which could be hand-fed and could be confused as gentle pets.” Claire was preceded in death by her parents, Lynwood and Clarice Abercrombie Bentley of Upson County, Georgia; and brothers Melvin Reeves Bentley of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; James L. Bentley, Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia; and T. Preston Bentley of Upson County (Thomaston), Georgia.She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Chris Anthony Foster; son Anthony Chris Foster and wife Amy of Longmont, Colorado; son Alexander Reeves Foster of Atlanta; grandchildren Reeves Alexander Foster, Lila Grace Foster and Violet Claire Foster; sisters-in-law Angeline Foster Browning of Athens and Gwen Bentley of Atlanta; niece and nephews Betty Bentley Watson and husband Wade of Atlanta, James L. Bentley III and wife Cameron of Augusta, and Sam J. Bentley and wife Fiona of Baton Rouge Louisiana; and by 7 great nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Sunday, November 19, 2017 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the funeral home and again one hour before the service on Monday. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of A.S. Turner and Sons at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 20, 2017.A graveside service will follow at 3:30 p.m. on November 20, 2017 in Trice Cemetery, across from 1037 Trice Cemetery Road, Thomaston, Georgia 30286, where Claire was laid to rest among 27 direct ancestors. When her brother Preston was no longer able to care for the cemetery, Claire assumed the role of caretaker for the historic site. In lieu of flowers, Claire would have appreciated donations for the upkeep of her beloved cemetery now maintained by her husband: Trice Cemetery Memorial Fund, c/o Chris Foster, 175 Pinecrest Avenue, Decatur, Georgia 30030. A. S. Turner and Sons Funeral Home & Crematory 2772 North Decatur Rd. Decatur, GA 30033.