Vanilla J. Prophet

Vanilla Jewel Foster, was born on November 28, 1924 in White Plains, AL. She was the youngest of 13 children born to Hosea and Dora Foster. She was educated in the Gadsden school system. She played guard on the girls basketball team while attending Gaston High School in Gadsden, AL, where she graduated. Afterwards, she worked at Fort McClellan Military Base in Anniston, AL. She later relocated to Michigan where she met and married Walter Prophet.

Vanilla was a previous member of Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, MI, where she received the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior.

Vanilla was a caregiver to her sister Allie and her mother, Dora, when they were seriously ill. Also, when she first moved to Barton Towers in Royal Oak, 30 years ago, she helped the other seniors in the building with their grocery shopping, picking up their mail and helping them any way she could, even though she was partially paralyzed, as a result of a stroke.

Vanilla was a very fun loving and humorous person. She was also very straight forward when telling you how she felt, especially in her later years. She loved playing cards and completing the daily crossword puzzles in The Detroit News. She was a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan, especially during the days when Alan Trammell and Lou Whittaker played with the team. Last, but not least, she made the best Macaroni & Cheese!

Vanilla departed this life on Friday, March 20, 2015.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hosea and Dora Foster; her husband, Walter Prophet; her 12 siblings, and a son, Calvin J. Prophet. She leaves to cherish her memories: Daughters: Sandra of Farmington Hills, MI, Sharon (Irvin) of Ferndale, MI, Tonia (Donald) of Shelby Twp., MI, Teri (Joseph) of San Marcos, CA. Sons: Gerald (Lillian) of Bridgeport, MI, Graylon of Whitmore Lake, MI, Conrad of Oak Park, MI, “adopted son” to the family, Michael Henderson (Yvonne) of Detroit, nine Grandchildren: Karen, Kevin, Jermaine, Doria, Donald, Jr., Calvin Benjamin, Johari, Honi, and Steven, sixteen Great Grandchildren, two Great Great Grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.