Obituary of Jo Nell Foster

Jo Nell Foster

Jo Nell Foster (née Smith, formerly Hadaway), 74, of Buckhannon, WV, died Saturday, May 18, 2024. She was born October 6, 1949, in Baltimore, MD, a daughter of the late James and Helen Kouns Smith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Foster, her brother, Robert Smith, and her sister, Cheryl Smith. She is survived by one daughter, Lisa Michele DeVincentz and husband David; one son, Joseph Ashley Hadaway, Jr. and wife Kelly; four grandchildren: Brittany Hadaway, Joseph A. Hadaway, III, Matthew DeVincentz, and Rachel DeVincentz; and her Godson, Dale Smith. Jo was a Realtor, a grants administrator at Johns Hopkins University’s uro-oncology division and the Kennedy Krieger Institute and worked at Sunrise Senior Living for the last 21 years of her career, where her roles included Director of Sales and Executive Director at multiple homes, and Regional Director of Operations. She was passionate about senior and Alzheimer’s patient care and advocacy and had a great impact on the residents and families she served. She retired in 2021. Jo was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, Godmother, fur-mama, friend, and travel buddy. She was active in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives and has been “Mommy” to several dogs over the last 40 years. An avid traveler, some of her favorite trips were to Israel, Australia, Hawaii, England, Greece, and Western Canada; she invited quite a few people to join her on her adventures so she could share her favorite experiences. If she traveled alone, she made friends quickly; she never met a stranger. She also loved gardening, and enjoyed being outside, preferably in the mountains or at a beach with her dog(s), and especially at sunrise or sunset. Jo was also a devoted daughter of God. Over the last 30 years, she has attended The Way of Holiness Church in Buckhannon, WV, Crossroads Church in Oakland, MD, and Oak Grove Baptist Church in Churchville, MD. Her faith and dedication to God are the basis of her legacy of love, service, compassion, and devotion. Celebrations of Jo’s life will be held on Sunday, June 9^th at 1 pm at the Way of Holiness Church in Buckhannon, WV, and on Saturday, June 15^th at 10 am at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center in Columbia, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Rosenbaum Family House in Morgantown, WV and WV Caring hospice house in Elkins, WV will be greatly appreciated. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.