Christmas Father's Toyshop held
2007 Amelia County
Christmas Father's program Chairman Ann Salster, left, and volunteers, Jake
Hammock of Above All Roofing (center) and The Monitor Editor Wayne Russell, help
to load the toys, books and other items for the toyshop held Friday (Dec. 14).
The toys were transported from the program's storage place in the Dick's Place
box truck driven by volunteer Mike Edwards. Over 300 children received toys and
other items for Christmas through the Christmas Father's program this year. See
additional pictures on pg. 15.
2007 Amelia County Christmas Father has long history of community service
2007 Amelia County Christmas Father
Henry Foster
The man chosen as
the 2007 Amelia County Christmas Father has a history of service to the people
of the county going back over 60 years.
Henry A. Foster has served as a county supervisor and on other county boards
and committees. He has volunteered to represent the county on regional
committees and has been a member of too many local organizations to count.
His history of community service began soon after he returned from service
in World War II, Mr. Foster remembered. The period from 1943 until 1946 was the
first and only time Mr. Foster left Amelia for any length of time. He was
drafted the same day he graduated from Russell Grove High School and during the
time in service, he was assigned to the U.S. Army’s 183rd Combat Engineers.
Their job was to do anything required, from building bridges to clearing
minefields. They were expected to accomplish their assignment even under enemy
fire. Mr. Foster, a tech sergeant, and his regiment were sent to England to
England and were expected to take part in the European campaign. However,
another combat engineer unit’s equipment was lost when the ship carrying the
equipment was sunk by a u-boat. The 183rd’s equipment was given to this unit and
the 183rd waited for new equipment to arrive from the United States.
During the wait, Mr. Foster developed breathing problems associated with the
noted English fog and its accompanying smog. He was sent back to the States.
He was probably lucky, Mr. Foster said. “I probably wouldn’t have survived
the war,” he said, noting the unit sustained high casualties in heavy fighting
during the push to Berlin.
Back home in Amelia in 1943, Mr. Foster was at loose ends. Jobs were scarce
in the area and he briefly considered moving somewhere else. Then he realized he
could make a living by farming.
He also had another revelation. His place was in Amelia and his calling was
to help the people of the county. He was soon involved in the Russell Grove High
School’s PTA and became its president. At age 21, he joined the local branch of
the NAACP and also became its president.
In 1971 he became the first black to be elected to the county’s board of
supervisors, serving 20 years and including a term as chairman of the board. Mr.
Foster also served on the Piedmont Planning District Commission for 20 years, on
the local planning commission for nine and served on the Social Services Board.
His community services include terms as a member of the Central Piedmont
Action Committee (CPAC), the Amelia Democratic Committee and held many offices
of the Chester Grove Baptist Church, including 45 years as chairman of the
deacon board.
By the early 1950s Mr. Foster found he could turn a profit by growing
tobacco on his property in the Paineville area. He raised tobacco or rented out
his land until 2000 when the federal government bought his allotment. During his
almost 50-year involvement with that crop, he served on the state’s dark-fired
and flue-cured tobacco boards under several governors. He has also held other
appointments under several governors.
Mr. Foster was named to the Amelia County High School Hall of Fame, which
incorporates Amelia High School, Russell Grove High School and Amelia County
High School graduates, in 1997.
Mr. Foster also operated a dry cleaning business in Crewe for over 30 years
with his wife, the former Bettie N. Wingo, to whom he has been married for 60
years. The business was closed in 2005.
Mr. Foster said he and his wife have six children and six grandchildren. The
children have all been successful and Mr. Foster said he was elated when his
daughter, Denise, was able to find a job here and move back into the county.
Denise Booker currently works in the commissioner of the revenue’s office.
When he was growing up in Amelia County, Mr. Foster and his father were avid
hunters and fishermen. For many years, Mr. Foster remembered, his father hunted
on Christmas Day. Then someone told the elder Mr. Foster that it was not right
to hunt on Christmas. Thereafter, the family enjoyed Christmas together, but the
men, including an favorite uncle that always visited on Christmas, went out
hunting early on Dec. 26.
On Christmas Day the family exchanged gifts, although they could not afford
very much, and they “ate a lot.” As they lived on a farm, they raised most of
their own food, he said.
When he started tobacco farming, Mr. Foster was able to give his own
children money to buy their own clothes and Christmas gifts. They all helped in
the tobacco fields and earned it, he said.
Mr. Foster becomes only the second “Christmas Father” in Amelia. Rev. Dorsey
Drawhorn was the first.
The program is the community service project of The Monitor and is
operated by a committee of volunteers from the county. Each year there is a toy
shop for children in December. Donations are accepted, either monetary or new
medium size toys, books, stocking stuffers and coloring books. Collection boxes
will be placed in area businesses next week and monetary donations can be sent
to the Amelia County Christmas Father, PO Box 123, Amelia Court House, Va.
23002.
As it helps the county’s less fortunate children, the Amelia Christmas
Mother’s Program is a great program, Mr. Foster said. “I will do anything
necessary to help the Christmas Mothers program. I intend to speak at different
churches and to various clubs and community organizations…I’ve always had it in
my heart to help.”