Obituary of Reverend Foster Luther Chambers

Services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in Bastrop, LA on Tuesday May 9, 2006 at 10 a.m. for the Reverend Foster L. Chambers, a retired Episcopal priest. Father Chambers died on Saturday May 6, 2006 due to complications from Alzheimer's Disease. For several years he was a resident of Hickory Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bastrop, where he was known by many of the staff from his active days in the ministry at Christ Church where he served as rector before his retirement. Father Chambers was born in Zwolle, LA in 1923, one of twelve children of Nathan and Fammie Shahan Chambers. By his parents and siblings, he was nicknamed "Sam". He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corps as part of the Air Transport Command's Fourth Ferrying Group, in parts of Europe, southeast Asia, the United Kingdom and the Middle East as well as in the United States, where he obtained the nickname of "Mike", due to his Irish and Scottish heritage, and later he served in the Air Force Reserve prior to being honorably discharged from military service. He married Rachael Croy of Birmingham, AL in 1944. He was employed as an independent businessman, and he and wife moved to Strong, AR, Homer, LA and then to Bossier City, LA, where he was employed by Wray Ford Company in Shreveport. Father Chambers obtained his GED and took further coursework at Centenary College in Shreveport, and studied for Holy Orders under the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana's Board of Examining Chaplains. He was ordained Deacon and called to be Curate of St. George's Episcopal Church in Bossier City in 1961. He attended St. Luke's Theological Seminary of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN from 1961-1962, and obtained a Certificate in Theological Studies in 1962. Upon completing his studies, Father Chambers was ordained to the priesthood and called to be Curate of St. James Episcopal Church in Alexandria, LA where he served from 1962-1965. In 1965, he became rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Franklin, LA as well as chaplain to St. Joseph's Episcopal Mission in Franklin. In 1968, Father Chambers accepted a call to become rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bessemer, AL. He served as rector of the congregation there until October 1972. In 1972, Father Chambers became rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Bastrop, LA where he remained until his retirement from active full-time ministry in 1985. Following his retirement from full-time ministry, he was chaplain to an Episcopal congregation in Farmerville, LA. His continuing education included two stints at the College of Preachers in Washington, D.C. and attendance at Cantress in Canterbury, England and International Studies at Durham, England in 1972 and 1982 respectfully. He had a great love of reading, especially English literature, and considered himself an "Anglophile" for many years. He enjoyed fishing, especially with his brothers, at family reunions. Prior to the onset of his illness, Father Chambers held many diocesan and convocation offices during his priesthood. With the division of the state into two dioceses, he served as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the new Western Diocese of Louisiana, president of the Executive Committee, and presided over the Primary Convention of the new diocese and the arrangement of a convention to elect the first bishop of the diocese. As his illness progressed, he became primarily homebound, with his beloved wife Rachel taking care of him with assistance from Mary Jane Pittman. Upon his wife's death in November 2001, it was decided that Father Chambers would be best Taken care of in a long-term care enviroment where he was well known, and had access to his primary physician of many years, Dr. John Lyon. Father Chambers is survived by a son, Michael Ray Chambers of Pelahatchie, MS; a daughter, Patricia Ann Chambers Durand & her husband Michael Durand of New Iberia, LA; four grandchildren, Norah Alana Chambers Lakin Kephart & her husband Randy of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Paul Michael Chambers of Denver, CO, Sarah Celeste Chambers of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Jonathan Stone Chambers of Morton, MS; two great grandchildren, Nathan Lakin and Amanda Raye Kephart. He is also survived by three sisters, Nora Chambers Fitzgerald of Strong, AR, Patricia Odell Chambers Curtis of Nashville, TN, and Ardell Chambers of Lake Havasu, AZ; as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. In addition to his wife of 57 years, Father Chambers was preceded in death by twin siblings who died in infancy in 1908, his parents, his brothers, Clyde, Lonnie, Roland, and Dewey Chambers; and his siters, Marie Chambers Meshell Wilkerson, and Florence Chambers Guidry. Golden Funeral Home of Bastrop is entrusted with the funeral arrangements. In accordance with Father Chambers' expressed wishes, the casket will lie in state at Christ Episcopal Church from Monday afternoon until interment. Military funeral honors will be given graveside at Christ Church Cemetery. The children of Father Chambers have requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of their father to the Alzheimer's Association, the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society. Religious fund donations can be made in his honor to Nashotah House Theological Seminary, 2777 Mission Road, Nashotah, WI 53058, where Father Chambers was made an Honorary Alumni prior to his retirement. Special thanks to Dr. John Lyon and the staff of Premier Hospice of Bastrop, the staff of Hickory Manor Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, Bert and Joyce Smith, Lillian Reeves, Father Chambers' former caregiver Mary Jane Pittman, as well as several members of the clergy for their care and concern during Father Chambers' lengthy illness.