Teresa Mathews Foster, 60, a resident of Luverne, passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family on Aug. 31. Funeral services for Teresa were held at 11 a.m. on September 4, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Rev. Wesley Hatcher Sr and Brother Clay Crum officiating. Interment followed in Darien Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. 

Teresa’s life can appropriately be summed up by calling her a truly dedicated servant of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The number of hours she spent both studying her Bible for her own edification as well as preparing lesson plans for the precious children she taught in Sunday School are simply incalculable. Her dedication and passion for her Lord were a sight to behold and an inspiration to so many. In 2007, she joined the membership of Brantley Baptist Church and quickly became a leader there. She went from Sunday School teacher to the director of the program from 2012 until her passing. She was also the Vacation Bible School director in 2011 and served as the co-director until only last year. That wasn’t enough service for Teresa though. She also took on the roles of Outreach Director and Director of Missions for many years, as well as the director for the Crenshaw County chapter of the Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union until 2020. Her zealous love of her Lord and the joyful service she provided certainly encouraged everyone she worked and fellowshipped with at the church. She also had the most beautiful singing voice and treasured every chance she got to use it to worship the Lord with her congregation, especially in the choir, with “Victory in Jesus” and “One Day at a Time” being particular favorites of hers.  

While there is no question that the Lord was Teresa’s greatest love, that for her family came in a very close second. She was such a devoted mother, GrandMaMa, sister, and “TT” to her many nieces and nephews that she will always hold a large place in their hearts. She spoiled her children, granddaughter, and nieces & nephews in the best way possible, with heaps and heaps of her time and love. And oh, did she love them. So much so, in fact, that she, a devoted Luverne Tiger, was willing to go support her nieces and nephews in all of their activities at Brantley…without actively rooting against the Tigers’ greatest rival! While gospel and country were Teresa’s musical genres of choice, car trips with the kids always included lots of singing to a wide variety of genres and artists. TT knew how to bring the fun no matter where they were or what they did, which was just part of why they all adored her so very much. Of course, Thanksgiving wasn’t a holiday if it didn’t involve TT’s dressing! Shoot, that was so good that her family insisted it was not just a Thanksgiving specialty, but an every-holiday dish, if they could convince her to do it. Obviously, Teresa had such generosity of spirit that her love and kindness was a blessing to all who knew and loved her. She modeled the behavior of a servant of God as well as a servant to her community as a whole through her membership in the Pink Lady program. She is leaving behind a remarkable legacy of not only dedicated service but also love for your fellow man; a true inspiration to everyone. 

Teresa was preceded in death by her parents, Max B. & Winnie Carol Sexton Mathews; brother, Dale Mathews; sister-in-law, Dianne Mathews; and dear niece, Brianna Mathews. She is survived by her beloved children, Derrick Foster (Nicole) and Trista Foster; granddaughter, Aryia Foster; sisters, Patricia (Cody) Smith and Melissa Mathews (Travis); nieces & nephews, Chelsea (Michael) Norris, Kaitlyn (Max) McDougald, Grace (Harrison) Weed, Madison Keener, and Bryce Keener (Kristen); and grand-nieces & grand-nephews, Kasen & Wrenley Norris, Braxtyn Keener, and Sullivan & Maverick McDougald. 

Active pallbearers were Cody Smith, Michael Norris, Max McDougald, Harrison Weed, Bryce Keener, and Travis Thomas.