MUNCIE - Beatrice "Bea" Moten-Foster, 73, was born July 20, 1937 in Selma, Alabama to Charlie and Hattie Moten. She entered into the eternal presence of the Lord on Saturday, April 9, 2011.
Moten-Foster, was the Owner/Publisher of The Muncie Times newspaper (Muncie, Indiana). She was a community leader and advocate who founded several service organizations in Muncie as well as Indianapolis including the National Council of Negro Women (Muncie Chapter), she helped launch the Muncie Coalition of 100 Women, organized Muncie's citywide celebration of Black History Month and also helped to establish the Muncie Black Expo.
She served as a commissioner as a part of the Martin Luther King Holiday committee at the appointment of Gov's. Frank O'Bannon, Joseph Kernan and Mitch Daniels along with numerous other commissions and boards. She received many local, state, and national awards including the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the highest civilian recognition a resident can be given by the State of Indiana, presented on various occasions, one presented by former Gov. Evan Bayh; she received the Spirit of Chief Munsee Award from former Muncie Mayor David Dominick, the highest City of Muncie award, the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce's Outstanding Business Person of the Year and Essence Magazine Woman. She was a trailblazer in many respects.
She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Dr. Robert O. Foster; her parents; her brother, Derry Moten Sr.; sister, Minnie Spencer, and grandson, Tyler Foster.
She leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Mary Charles Story; brother, James "Fiz" McKenzie; her devoted children, Rev. Pamela Emmanuel (Greg), Holly Coleman (Charles), Danny Foster (Gwen), and Brad Foster; two adopted sons, Winston Savice and Bolton Tarieh Nyema; three foster sons, Angelo Edwards, Jerome Jones, and Michael Jones; sister-in-law, Otee Stills; brother-in-law, Lee Foster (Earnestine); brother-in-law, Julius Spencer; grandchildren, Korey Van Horn, Ebonye X-Endsley, Adrian Coleman (Micaela), Lindsey Coleman, Stacy Coleman, Sean Foster, Daniel Foster, Danelle Foster, Brittany Foster, and Gregory Emmanuel; eight great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Contributions can be made to The Beatrice Foster Muncie Times INC. Memorial Fund in care of Old National Bank.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. with viewing from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Christ Temple Global Ministries, 654 N. Jefferson St. Muncie, Indiana. Bishop S. Michael Millben is the eulogist. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory Cemetery.