At 69 Joseph (Doby) Mason Foshee is survived by his beloved wife, Eleanor R. Foshee, of 28 years, two step-sons, three brothers and two sisters. He grew up on a farm four miles east of Red Level and he attended Red Level High School until his sophomore year. He was an outstanding athlete especially in football and basketball. He was a member of the 1957 Championship football team at Red Level. Doby played full-back on that team. He started living with his sister and her husband in Demopolis in April 1959. Also he was going to high school there when he developed polio in September 1959.

Polio left him extensively paralyzed but it never stopped his zeal for life. He always had a positive attitude about life, even though he was dealt a heavy hand. He took what the Lord gave him and made the most of it. He would often say, “I may be physically disabled, but I am not mentally disabled.” He finished high school at the Academy of Richmond County in Augusta, Georgia and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in business administration at Augusta College (Augusta University). After his graduation he worked at Continental Can Company (later Federal Paper Company, currently International Paper Co.) as a data analyst in the technical department until his retirement in 1998 (31 years).

He was active in programs for improving access for the physically challenged/deaf in Augusta communities for the past 25 years. Doby served on the Able-Disable, Inc. Board as president, as vice president, and as treasurer of the organization at various times.

He was one the founding members of the A-D in 1973 in Augusta. He also served on the Camp Juliena Board of Directors as treasurer. Camp Juliena is the only camp for the deaf youth and teens in Georgia. Their policy was to never turn away a child because of their inability to pay the fees. Also he first became aware of the need for such programs when he went to Academy of Richmond County.

He had student friends that would meet and lift him and his wheel chair up the stairs to his classes. He was a member of the Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken, South Carolina.

The post-polio syndrome that he developed in his later years further weakened his remaining muscles requiring respiratory assistance for most of the day. On November 27, 2011 around 10 a.m. he could no longer breathe. He was called home to be with the Lord.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at 1 p.m. at Buck Creek Baptist Church, Red Level, Alabama. The family requested donations be made to Buck Creek Baptist Church for the purpose of church furniture and/or missions in lieu of flowers. The address is C/O Billy Joe Sharpe (church treasurer), 33715 Bryant Road, Red Level, AL 36474.