"I Love Bebe" Party.

Bebe Foster, the Grand Witch in the 2019 Foley Witches Ride.

Preparing for an AFS Reception Dinner.

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FOLEY - Adileen LeClare Donaldson Foster, known as Bebe, passed away at her home on Nov. 20 at the age of 97. Foster was a well-known figure within the Foley community, and a friend and mentor to many. Shortly after her passing numerous posts appeared on social media from those who had known and loved the former Elberta Junior High and Foley Junior High teacher. These types of posts were not uncommon for Foster: past students messaged her frequently to tell her how much her mentorship and teaching had meant to them.

“My mother would say, ‘teaching is one of the greatest loves of my life,’” said Foster’s daughter Dr. Patricia Ann Foster of Iowa City, Iowa. “She’d say, ‘I taught the whole child, making my responsibility that of finding the wonder of each. I look earnestly for those elusive qualities that are special and praiseworthy.’”

Dr. Foster recalled innumerous stories of her mother, her students, and her years spent teaching and mentoring. She remembered a young student riding his bike to their home, where Foster would meet him outside, discuss science class experiments and encourage and reassure him, before waving goodbye affectionately as he rode off. Recently, Dr. Foster learned of her mother running into a former student in the grocery store, where after 50 years the former student instantly recognized her and proudly showed her his beautiful penmanship, which he had learned from her. Countless stories similar to these were a constant in Foster’s life, testimonies to all the lives she touched.

“For my mother, education was the conduit to understanding and change,” said Dr. Foster. “Her mother stressed education to her children, and Mother said that she realized in high school that she could escape the harsh conditions of a mining town through education.”

Born on Dec. 15, 1922 in Maben, Alabama in a coal mining town, Foster relied on the support and encouragement of her teachers, who saw the potential in her, to prosper. After graduating as valedictorian, she entered the University of Alabama at age 16 via a scholarship, where she earned degrees in nutrition and education. Upon entering college, she had never used a telephone or been away from home for longer than two days, said Dr. Foster.

“Education for women was one of her concerns,” Dr. Foster recalled. “This was in the 1950s and 60s when women were often subordinated to men and not considered as prominent candidates for graduate, medical, or law school. She insisted that my sister and I push ourselves so that we could be independent. She was also active in fundraising and directing the scholarships for nursing. This was a passion of hers because she worked in hospitals as a dietician during the early years of her marriage. I remember that she worked tirelessly for women going into medical fields and was proud of the scholarships provided for Foley girls. She knew education was an escape hatch for many, both men and women, and she believed fervently in the necessity of scholarships.”

Another passion of Foster’s was the American Field Service, which she got involved in during the 60s through Wyline Ebert. Through she years, the Foster family hosted and welcomed foreign exchange students. In 1966, they hosted Visaka Pandit, known as Jam, from Bangkok, Thailand, who continued to keep in contact with the family and called Foster and her husband “mama and daddy.” She event got married at the Foster household, with her mother flying in from Thailand. During the 80s, the family hosted Britta Schwarz, who also became close to Foster and has kept in touch with the family ever since, returning to Foley on multiple occasions. As Dr. Foster said, Foster became a surrogate mother to Pandit and a surrogate grandmother for Schwarz.

“Mother believed in international studies, in how much we could learn from other cultures and how much we had to share as Americans and Southerners,” said Dr. Foster. “She was always proud of being Southern and wanted the family traditions of loyalty and ambitious minds to be shared. I always thought her passion was for the expansion of the self, the idea that we not only improve ourselves but complicate ourselves through knowledge.”

Schwarz has said that the best advice she ever received from Foster was to ‘not judge, not to say something was better or worse in one culture or another, but just different. A true intercultural wisdom.’ The second-best advice she received was to ‘try to look your best and be thankful for makeup on certain days.’

Foster was named Teacher of the Year in 1972 and University of Alabama Distinguished Alumna in 1977. Foley’s chapter of the National Honor Society is named for her. Along with teaching, nursing, and the American Field Society, Foster was dedicated to the South Baldwin Hospital Auxiliary, Performing Arts Association, Foley United Methodist Church and, later, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church. She served as National Vice President for the University of Alabama Alumni Association. In 2019, Foster rode in the Foley Witches Ride as the Grand Witch, which Dr. Foster claims was a great honor for her mother. The ride raises funds for local children in the community.

A Celebration of Life service will be announced in the coming months. Anyone who would like to make memorial donations can do so through the Bebe Foster Memorial Scholarship, South Baldwin Education Foundation, PO Box 1600, Foley AL 36536, or call 251-943-5520.