Ethel (Baston) Foulks

Mrs. Ethel Foulks, 81, daughter of the late Booker T. and Dora Bobo Baston, was born October 10, 1939 in Leesville, South Carolina.  She departed this earthly life on Friday, January 1, 2021 at her home in Columbia, South Carolina.

She was the former manager and a member of a family gospel group called “The Baston Singers.”

Ethel was a graduate of Twin City High School, Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina.  She graduated from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.  She completed fifteen hours of graduate studies toward a master’s degree in Special Education, at Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina.  She completed certification requirements for Developmental Therapy at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.  Ethel attended a Montessori Institute of America through the Head Start Program and received extensive training in the Montessori method of early childhood education. She also received extensive teacher effectiveness training and competency in Child Development Education, and the Pre-school Handicapped Child at the University of South Carolina’s Child Development Institute. She was a teacher of Developmental Therapy for the Early Childhood Education Program of the Columbia Urban League.  She is the former director of Health and Handicap Services for the GLEAM Head Start Program which served over 500 pre-school children in four counties of the State of South Carolina.  From 1988 to 2001, she was employed as a Data Manager Research Analyst at the University of South Carolina.  On June 30, 2001, Ethel retired from the State.

Ethel was a member of the Charles B. Jackson Singers, the Sanctuary Choir, and the First Sunday Ensemble.  She loves God with all of her heart and she strives to live by Proverb 3:5-6, which says “Trust in The Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy path.”

Ethel was preceded in death by both parents; three brothers, Tommie Lee, Booker T. and David Baston and two sisters, Lizzie Ruth Toland and Mary Ann Baston.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories:  her two children – Zeborah Doyhae Foulks, Deidre Yvonne Foulks and loving daughter-in-law – Regina Foulks, all of Columbia, South Carolina; six sisters – Ora L. Baston of Jamaica, New York, Willer (Willie) Glover of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina, Doris (Matthew) Golson of Salley, South Carolina, Sylvia Jeanette (Bennie) of Florence, South Carolina, Berlinda Baston of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Hilda (Rev. Edwin) Guess of Columbia, South Carolina; one aunt – Flossie B. Simpkins of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina; eleven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many sorrowing friends who will cherish her memory.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ethel (Baston) Foulks, please visit our floral store.