Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Black, Foster March 16, 1903 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dorothy Strawhand https://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008405 February 13, 2020, 3:01 pm Virginian Pilot March 17, 1903 FOSTER BLACK PASSES AWAY One Of Norfolk County's Best Known Citizens Was Prominent In the Business and Political Affairs of the County--- Diptheria the Cause of Death --- Funeral Will Occur on Wednesday. Mr. John Foster Black, one of Norfolk county's best-known, highly respected and foremost citizens, passed away at the family residence, in South Norfolk, yesterday morning about 1:30 o'clock after an illness of eleven weeks. He suffered an attack of something like diphtheria for some time before Christmas, but was out for a few days shortly after, when he took a relapse followed by multiple neuritis, from which he never recovered. He, at different times during his extended illness, suffered intense pain and was unconscious for the last five days. He began to grow worse Sunday afternoon about 5 o'clock and his sufferings increased until the cold touch of death ushered him from this life into the great beyond. The deceased leaves to mourn their loss a devoted wife, Mrs. Jennie N. Black, two sons, Baron and Munro, 9 and 6 years of age, respectively; three sisters, Mrs. Jane Boyd, California; Mrs. Annie Lee, Belfast, Ireland and Mrs. M.B. Sloane, New York; two nephews, Mr. Thomas Black, an officer in the Atlantic Shook and Lumber Company and William Sloane, Jr., member of the Foster Black Company, and both residents of South Norfolk. The deceased was prominently identified with many of the leading enterprises of Berkley, holding stock and in many instances offices; viz: building and loan associations, land companies, and several manufacturing enterprises. Those in which he figured most prominently are: the Berkley People's Bank, of which institution he was one of the principal founders and has held the position of president since its organization two years ago, and the Foster Black Company, comprising the Chesapeake and Elizabeth knitting mills, of Berkley and South Norfolk. He was reputed to be the wealthiest man on the Berkley side of the river. His holdings will approach a quarter of a million. He was born in northern Ireland in 1884 and came to this country when he was about eighteen years of age and has been engaged in the textile industry in New York and in this section. He came to this section to make it his permanent home in 1890, and two years later was married to Miss Tilley, a daughter of Mr. E.M. Tilley, of South Norfolk, and supervisor of Washington district. Mr. Black, having been so largely identified with so many of the leading enterprises, as well as being a man of sterling qualities, was a great factor in the industrial world and a citizen who will be greatly missed. The funeral will be conducted from Memorial M.E. Church Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, Rev. W. Asbury Christian officiating, after which the interment will be in Magnolia Cemetery. ************************************************************************* The funeral of the late Mr. Foster Black will be conducted from the Memorial M.E. Church this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, Rev. W.A. Christian, pastor, officiating, after which the interment will be in Magnolia Cemetery. Mr. J.R. Williams, funeral director of this place, will officiate at the grave. The date of birth, as occurred in the account contained in this paper yesterday morning, was a typographical error. It should have been 1844, making his age 59 years. Virginian Pilot March 18, 1903 Additional Comments: Magnolia Note acknowledgement the next day of typographical error in year of birth. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/norfolkcity/obits/b/black674nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/vafiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb