ABCH ‘banjo man’ Doug Foster dies July 23

Doug Foster — a pastor, professional musician and retired staff member of Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries — died July 23. He was 76.

Foster was born in South Carolina, raised in Tennessee and served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army before surrendering his life to ministry. He served as a youth pastor and music director before serving as a pastor at churches in Oklahoma and Texas. He was also known for his giftedness in singing and playing stringed instruments.

In 1993, Foster and his wife, Jeanne, moved to Alabama, and he began working at Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham. He later became a development officer at ABCH, where he served until his retirement.

Steve Sellers, who served alongside Foster at ABCH, said, when churches called ABCH for a representative to speak at their services or events, they “frequently asked specifically for ‘the banjo man.'”

“A condition of Doug coming to their churches was often that he would play at least one of his stringed instruments and sing,” Sellers said.

Foster was a member of Oak Mountain Baptist Church in Pelham, where he was active in the music ministry and taught several Bible classes. He is survived by his wife of 55 years; sons, Matthew Edward and Matthew Charles; daughter, Susan Leigh; and five grandchildren.