Arlene Foster

Arlene B. Foster, a much-loved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away peacefully June 1, 2026, at the age of 89, in Jamestown, NC.

Arlene was born August 3, 1936, in Wilkes County, NC to the late William Marcus and Pearl Pardue Blackburn. Arlene graduated from Wilkes Central High School in 1955 and moved to Jamestown in 1964. She was a homemaker who believed in the devotion of a mother to the home and family. Her joy came from caring for her family, her passion for cooking, gardening and caring for others. Her greatest accomplishment was being a mother. She was dedicated to her children’s overall well-being, sacrificing a great deal to raise them the best way she knew. Seeing her family grow over the generations and welcoming the new grandbabies into the family was her favorite! Her grandchildren were very special to her; they loved her cooking, especially the pumpkin pies! Cooking was her own unique way of meeting the needs of others and showing she cared.

She was a member of Green Street Baptist Church for over 60 years and the ladies Sunday School Class. Throughout her life she lived her faith humbly and sincerely. Arlene was frugal, hardworking, and had a quick wit about her that others loved. She loved being around people and never met a stranger. She had a resilient strength that carried her through her entire life.

Arlene retired from BB&T as a Customer Service Representative. In addition to her career and family, she worked with the Board of Elections office on election days forover 40 years. Her ability to connect with others created lifelong friendships from these jobs, her church family and her neighborhood community.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Dorothy Rhoades; her twin brothers, Jim and Donald Blackburn and her brother Junior Blackburn; and her son-in-law Charlie Noell.

She is survived by her four children: Elizabeth Noell of Jamestown, NC; Frank Foster (wife, Betsy) of High Point, NC; William Foster (wife, Gaye) of High Point, NC; and Leigh Ann Gray (husband, Gregg) of Jamestown, NC; her eight grandchildren: Bennett Noell (wife, Sarah) of Monroe, NC; Amanda Andersen (husband, Ben) of Winston-Salem, NC; Jennifer Creech (husband, Brandon) of Thomasville; Tripp Foster (wife, Maggie) of Browns Summit, NC; Cole Foster of High Point, NC; Francie Foster and Liza Foster of High Point, NC; Andrew Gray of Jamestown, NC; her seven great grandchildren: Jude, Nora, and Owen Noell; Benjamin, Collins, Mary Paige and Lizzie Anderson. Also surviving is her sister Mabel Broach (husband, Ted) of Lewisville, NC; brother Joe Blackburn (wife, Judy) of Wilkesboro, NC; as well as her sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am Friday, June 5, 2026, in the High Point Chapel of Wright Funeral-Cremations with Reverend Michael Owens and Reverend Blythe Wall officiating.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-6:30 pm, Thursday, June 4, 2026, at Wright Funeral- Cremations, High PointChapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Green Street Baptist Church Youth Fund, 303 Rotary Drive, High Point, NC 27262 or Brenner’s Children’s Hospital, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 or Hospice of the Piedmont, 1801 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262 in her memory.