Dr. Charles Jeffrey Foster's Obituary
Long-time Newport Optometrist, Dr. Charles Jeffrey Foster, went to be with the Lord on Friday, August 28, 2020 at Tennova Newport Medical Center in Newport. Dr Jeff Foster was born on April 2, 1956 in Bluff City, Tennessee to the late Charles H. Foster and Maxine Harrison Foster.
Dr. Foster attended Newport Grammar School, Cocke County High School, and ETSU and then graduated from Southern College of Optomtry in 1981. He joined the practice of Drs. Nathan Ford and William B. Henry, today operating under the name Vision Source of Newport.
Dr. Foster was a member of Crossroads Community Church and of the Gideon's. In the past he served terms on local boards and organizations including Cocke County Election Commission, Cocke County Library Board, Newport-Cocke Economic Development Commission, Newport Central Charities, Douglas Adult Cooperative and the East Tennessee Eye Bank. He also served as past president of the Newport Lions Club and the Boys' and Girls' Club.
As an optometric physician, Dr. Foster was a member of the Smoky Mountain Optometric Society, Tennessee Academy of Optometric Physicians, Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians, SECO International and the American Optometric Association. In 1984 the Tennessee Association Optometric Physicians Association named Dr. Jeff Foster the Young Optometrist of the year and in 1986, he was named the Optometrist of the Year. In 2014, Dr. Foster received the award of Optometrist of the Decade, the highest honor bestowed by the association. It has only been awarded twice in the Tennessere Association of Optometrist Physicians' history. Dr. Foster served as a past legislative chairman of the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians, He is past president of the Tennessee Association of Optometry Physcians, Tennesse Academy of Optometry and is past chairman of the Tennessee Board of Examiners of Optomery, at the time of his death, Dr. Foster was serving on the Courtesy/Consultative Staff of Tennova Newport Medical Center. He was also a Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry.
Dr. Foster's hobbies including fishing, hunting, clay shooting, travel and he was an avid fan of ETSU Buccaneers and all Cocke County and Cosby sport teams, especially the Cocke County Claybusters.
He is survived by his uncle Sidney (Christine) Harrison; cousins Troy Harrison, Lora Harrison (Chris) Johnstone, Kelly Harrison (Tim Beddingfield) and Johnny Williamson. Additional survivors include his beloved practice partners, Dr. Kurt (Sacha) Steele, Dr. Emily Eisenhower, Dr. Graham Taylor and his staff. He will be greatly missed by the optometric community in Tennessee as well.
There will be a private graveside service in Hot Springs, North Carolina. There will also be a Celebration Of Dr. Foster's Life that will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Cocke County Education Foundation or Gideon International.
Family and friends may stop by Costner-Maloy Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 31, 2020 to sign the guest register.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Costner-Maloy
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