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Time to Be Born:

Ellar Mae Hatcher was born on Nov. 15, 1942 to the parentage of Johnnie (Jack) Hatcher and Savannah Peters Hatcher, and to that union four children were born — Ellar being the oldest, Clemeal (Shorty) Hatcher, Mary L. Hatcher May and Booker T. Hatcher. Ellar departed this earthly life on June 28, 2022, surrounded by her loved ones.

Time To Educate:

Ellar attended Jones Creek Elementary School and graduated valedictorian Class of 1959. She attended Wesley Ray High School and completed night classes at Central Memorial High School and later attended Southern University. She moved to California and obtained an associate’s degree in Psychology. She also obtained a certificate of completion in Child Care Management from Stratford University.

Time To Cherish:

As a young child Ellar was carried to Mary’s Chapel UMC, where she was baptized, under the leadership of Rev. Franklyn. She was active in Sunday school, sang in the youth choir and attended MYF. High school life was good, Ellar was an A student, she loved basketball, but she says she did not use all five of her senses, she married early, and she thanks God for daughter Anita. But God has a plan for all of our lives, she met and married William T. Foster Jr. and to this union three daughters were born, Shondalon G. Foster, Nanette P. Blackwell and Melissa A. Foster, and later was blessed with a son, Undra L. McKenzie from her niece and nephew, Undra and Julie Moses. In 1966 the family moved to California; it was hard to leave her family especially her mother, who always had her back, but God is good all the time, so she knew that they were making the right move. They joined Southwest Methodist Church for a few years where the girls were baptized but in 1969, they moved to the westside and they joined New Congregational MBC under the leadership of Dr. L.M. Jones. Ellar worked in many areas of the church, Sunday School, Mission, Usher Board, and the finance office. Ellar retired from New York Life in 1989 to work full time at the church. In 1992, Ellar received her calling into the Ministry; she received her License on July 12, 1993, and she served with joy as part of the Ministerial staff. Ellar moved back to Louisiana in 2003 and returned to Mary’s Chapel; after seven years she decided to join her husband at Mt. Zion MBC where she was active in Sunday School and Mission. On Nov. 26, 2017, she was blessed to bring the message at the 11 a.m. service and was licensed by Dr. Byron Muse. Her subject that Sunday was “Winning The Spiritual Lottery.” Ellar continued to minister and serve until her health began to fail.

Ellar was employed with New York Life from 1974-2002, Washington Parish School Board from 2005-2010, and Cook-Richmond Funeral Home from 2011-2022. She was the owner of Foster’s Gamily Day Care from 2001-2011.

Ellar M. Foster leaves to cherish her memories: her loving husband, William T. Foster Jr.; two daughters, Anita L. (Gregory) Howard and Shondalon G. Foster; one son, Undra L. McKenzie; a sister, Mary L. May; 12 grandchildren, Tomekia Harry, Myesha (Shelly) Haynes, Larry (Sherrick) Harry, Keith (Charonda) Pinkard, Gregory Strickland, Tony (Crystal) Osborne, Steven Osborne, Rodney Jones, William (Jade) Foster III, Me’Lisha (Tomin) Harvey, Jordan McKenzie and Audae M. McKenzie; a son-in-law, Lester Blackwell; a special great-granddaughter, Mahliyah Harry; two special nephews, Matthew Washington and David May; and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews , aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Ellar was preceded in death by her parents, Johnny and Savannah Hatcher; grandparents, Loren and Nazeal Peters and James Willie and Ella Hatcher; two daughters, Nanette P. Blackwell and Melissa A. Foster; brothers, Clemeal and Booker Hatcher, and Oscar L. Moses; sisters, Margie L. Johnson, Faye Dorothy Parnell and Lucille Nichols.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 16, at 11 a.m. at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Byron Muse officiating. Interment will be in the Robinson Cemetery.

Cook-Richmond Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guestbook online at www.cookrichmondfuneralhome.com.