Jay Luther Foster, aged 68, passed away on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

Jay was born on June 22, 1955 in Mathews County, Virginia, to Dorothy and Grayson Foster. After graduating from Mathews High School in 1973, Jay moved to Detroit, Michigan, to play music and afterward followed that passion to Miami, Florida. There he met Hedy Szurovecz, whom he married in 1983, and returned to Virginia, where the couple had two beautiful daughters, Jennifer and Alison. After their divorce, Jay returned to his family home in Redart, Mathews County.

While Jay held several jobs throughout his life—NAPA Auto Parts in Chesterfield, Quinn Motors in Gloucester, and for Richard Callis of R & W Marine Construction in Cobbs Creek—nothing brought him more joy than playing music. He started on the piano at the age of three, joined his first band at 13, and continued sharing that talent into his adult years. He sang and played regularly at Westville Christian Church, as well as numerous local venues.

Jay was a longtime keyboardist and vocalist for a southern rock band, The Southern Knights, though his own listening interests spanned many genres. Featured on TNN in 1995, the band placed ninth out of 1,500 acts on the Charlie Daniels’ Talent Roundup. They also received a Billboard certificate of achievement for their original song “Me and Jack.”

If the stage was Jay’s first home, then the water was a near-distant second. In his spare time, he could often be found boating and fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, notably at Hole in the Wall off Gwynn’s Island. He shared his love of the water throughout his life, leading his daughters, family, and friends on frequent fishing and crabbing expeditions.

Those left to cherish his memory include his former wife, Hedy Szurovecz, and daughters, Jennifer Foster in Newport News and Alison Foster (Edward) in Richmond, with Jay’s granddaughter, Madeline Grace Alexander; brother, Grayson Foster (Darle) in Mathews, and sister, Candace Junker in Richmond.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Grayson Foster.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, from 10-11 a.m. at Faulkner Funeral Homes, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, Mathews, followed by a memorial service at 11 o’clock in the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Mathews Rotary Club, P.O. Box 282, Mathews, Va. 23109.