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“Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9. Frank Foster Kennedy, Jr. passed away on August 9, 2021 at his home in West Point, Mississippi after a lengthy battle with ALS and pulmonary fibrosis. Foster was born on November 29, 1947 in Birmingham, Alabama to the late Dr. Frank Foster Kennedy, Sr. and the late Betty Booth Kennedy. Foster grew up in Aberdeen, Mississippi, a town he loved dearly, and graduated from the University of Mississippi. He was an oil and gas landman and was the owner of Southwest Energy, Inc. Foster was a member of First United Methodist Church of West Point.
Foster was an avid Ole Miss fan, who loved the friends he made from all walks of life, including those from his days as a Sigma Chi at Ole Miss and those made during many rounds of golf. He enjoyed several outdoor activities, including golf, running and swimming. Foster will always be remembered as a perfect gentleman, a dapper dresser, a great friend, and a wonderful father and husband. He loved nothing more than “his girls.” As his health declined, Foster’s faith and consistent declarations of how blessed he was inspired and touched so many.
Foster is survived by his wife of 35 years, Gayle Walker Kennedy; two daughters Mary Clift Abdalla (Jerry) of Jackson, Mississippi and Claire Kennedy Pinelo (Oscar) of San Pedro, Belize; his sister, Cissy Kennedy Guess of Amory, Mississippi; and two grandchildren, Anne Simon “Sims” Abdalla and Nicolas Foster “Nico” Pinelo, who brought such joy to the last years of his life. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Frank Kennedy and his brother-in-law, Jerry Guess.
Pallbearers will be Tom Elmore, Ronnie Roundtree, Johnny Norwood, H.L. Dilworth, Ricky Pinson, Belk Weems, Kyle Chandler, Toby Lott, Jim Mansfield and Dale Pierce. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. Ed Miller, Dr. Ned Miller, Dr. Ruth Fredericks, Dr. Tim Cannon, David Houston, Bob Lee, Smith Turnage, Andy Williams, and his in-home caregivers: Mary Reese, Mary Smith and Freda Ellis.
Due to Covid concerns, a graveside service will be held on Friday, August 13 at 10:00 am at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Aberdeen. The family will receive visitors at their home that afternoon from 4:30-6:30. Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of West Point or to Friends of Children’s Hospital at 3900 Lakeland Drive, Suite 205, Flowood, Mississippi 39232.
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Gayle, we are so sorry for your loss and pray our Lord will bring you comfort and peace through this difficult time. We join those praying for you and your family. Mike & Lisa Morris
So sorry to hear about my lifelong friend, Foster. My prayers go up for him and his family.
Steve Martin
So sorry to hear this. Foster was always kind and friendly with everyone
So very sorry to hear this news. Foster was a inspiration to me as I navigated my freshman, and ensuing years at Ole Miss. His wit, charm and humor made a big impression on me. I was proud to call him my friend, and although we had limited contact through the ensuing years, I still enjoy fond memories of Foster.
I was so sorry to learn that my Sigma Chi brother had passed away.
I will always remember him for his humor ,love of golf, and of course his threads. He was quite the dapper dresser.
My son Billy, also a Sigma Chi at Ole Miss, met Foster at the TPC in Jacksonville several years ago.
Our sympathies go out to Gayle, Cissy, the extended family and to his great friends David Houston and Smith Turnage.
You will be missed.
God Bless Y’all,
Bodie Catlin
Gayle: This is Ney McDaniel. I reside in Raleigh, MS. I first met Foster and Sam way back during the winter of 1995 on an oil & gas ticket they had going on up in Adrian, Michigan. I’m the landman who met you and the girls as you got off the plane at Detroit International Airport. Foster sent me to meet ya’ll inside the terminal and bring ya’ll to him so you wouldn’t worry about him. I cannot begin to tell you how many side-splitting laughs he and I shared in our time together leasing out in the field driving around Adrian in deep snow. I had a little Honda Civic that was equipped with steel-studded tires at the time and Foster and I were the only landmen that could leave the hotel due to the snow depth and try to lease land.
Those were some of the most joyous moments I’ve experienced in my 68 years due primarily to Foster’s incredibly dry wit. I could not stop laughing as we slid around in the snow. I’ll never forget him. I lost my wife of 33 years back in 2015 due to ovarian cancer. I’m sharing this fact with you because I know from bitter experience that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will get you and the girls thru this. It’ll take time, granted; but you’ll survive and it will become more bearable in time and you will find peace, acceptance and serenity. Good Bless You and all of your Family.