Obituary

Bonnie Lou Cotton Foster

November 7, 1946 - February 7, 2026

“Please don’t say that I gave up, just say I gave in. Don’t say I lost the Battle, for it was God’s war to lose or win. Please don’t say how good I was, but that I did my best. Just say I tried to do what’s right, to give the most I could, not to do less. Please don’t give me wings or halos, that’s for God to do. I want no more than I deserve, no extras just my due”…………

An angel of the Lord silently touched down to earth on Old Recreation Center Road, in Varnado, LA, on Saturday, February 7, 2026, and knocked on the heart of a loving servant of God to take away all her earthly ailments, her earthly worries and her earthly pains, and made whole the heavenly body, through servitude and faith, of Bonnie Lou Cotton Foster. Bonnie Lou was born on November 7, 1946, to David and Bonnie Mae Cotton in Bogalusa, LA. She grew up on Napoleon Street, on the Northside, in fact, where she was number seven of nine siblings. She received her education in the Bogalusa City School System and was a 1968 graduate of Central Memorial High School. Bonnie Lou was introduced to Christ at an early age through membership and worship at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church on Ann Street.

She remained in the Bogalusa community until she joined in holy matrimony to the love of her life, Felton Foster, on September 19, 1969, and they relocated to Varnado, LA. Together, they loved and raised five children—Curley Lorenzo, Toren Deatrice, Felton Eddie, Latoya Diane, and Joshua Bernard. Bonnie Lou then joined The Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Alfonso Nelson, where she remained an active and participating member until her health began to fail, serving diligently as a Doorkeeper for the Lord. She was employed by Rest Haven Living Center in several different capacities, but lastly in Laundry Services, until July of 2000.

Bonnie Lou’s life can be best portrayed by five “F” words: Faith (in God), Family, Friends, Food, and Fun-filled—in her 79 years of life here with us she experienced an abundance of each. These words are what carried her through from day to day and equipped her with the strength to push past limitations that only “But God” could justifiably be the explanation for. Up until the very end, her display of strength and determination never wavered—SHE WAS A TRUE FIGHTER!

There is a void that cannot be replaced for all who knew and loved Bonnie Lou; she will be loved and missed forever by: four children, Toren (Eric, Sr.) Holmes, of Chicago, IL, Felton (Tenisha) Foster, Jr., of Bogalusa, LA, Latoya (Sherman) Smith, of Angie, LA, and Joshua Foster, Sr., of Baton Rouge, LA; eleven grandchildren, Curley (Tracy) Ratliff, Kearion Foster, Christian Foster, Sr., Ty’Ariq Holmes, Chloé Foster, Eric Holmes, Jr., Lauryn Smith, Joshua Foster, Jr., Jaren Foster, Joiya Foster, and Jace Foster; six great-grandchildren, Kai Ratliff, Chrislyn Foster, Lacey Ratliff, Christian Foster, Jr., Tristian Foster, and Demi Spikes; a bonus son, Kelton (Jameka) Johnson, Sr.; one sister, Verdine Jackson; one brother, Glen Cotton, Sr.; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Faye Burnette, Inez Woods, and Eddia Magee; one brother-in-law, Mike Jason; three Godchildren, Kwasi Moses, Tyisha Newkirk, and Chandler Dyson; a devoted friend, Evelyn Weary; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Welcoming Bonnie Lou on the other side were: her husband, Felton Foster, Sr.; her son, Curley Foster; her parents, David and Bonnie Cotton; and her siblings, Deborah Taylor, Doris Jason, Earline Smith, R J Weary, Otis Cotton, Cullie Cotton, Sr., and Tricia Conerly.

A drive through viewing will be on Friday, Feb 13, 2026 from 3:00PM – 5:00PM at Crain and Sons Funeral Home – Bogalusa.

A visitation will be on Monday, February 16, 2026 from 10:00AM - 12:00PM followed by the funeral service at 12:00PM at Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church 64115 Par Rd 420, Angie, LA 70426. 

Crain and Sons Funeral Home - Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements.