Dignity, courage, family-focused, faith-filled and strength are all words that describe Alice Louisa Lyerly Foy—a consummate musician, beloved aunt, devoted teacher and caring friend. A. Louisa Lyerly Foy was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on December 18, 1922, the third of four children born to Rena Kent Lyerly and James Alexander Lyerly. She inherited a rich legacy of faith, family, character and leadership. She was named after her grandmother, Alice Virgina Wilson, a woman of unusual strength and drive. Mrs. Wilson was a strong and righteous woman who taught Louisa the values of honesty, truth, compassion, perseverance and the importance of keeping a spiritual focus.

Louisa always exhibited a love for music. Her connection with music was firmly established at age 5 when she heard music being played by her grandmother's friend. In order to develop this interest, her parents asked Professor John P. Diggs to teach her and to give her a solid musical foundation. As she matured in her craft she began to practice on a pump organ and by age 10 had a piano for practice at home. By age 14 she became an accompanist at Bethania A.M.E. Zion Church. In her early years she also sang with her mother in Dubois' Seven Last Words of Christ at Goler Metropolitan A.M. E. Zion Church. A deeper connection with music came when she turned pages for Mrs. Pauline Bess, a Winston-Salem Teachers College faculty member. Louisa went on to master the grand organ at Goler, which had been purchased from the Carolina Theater, which is now The Stevens Center.

Louisa completed her undergraduate education at Winston-Salem Teachers College which is now Winston-Salem State University. Upon graduating she taught music in Graham, NC from 1946-1969. She continued her teaching career in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools at Mt. Tabor High School and Anderson High School. During her career she established superior ranked choral groups and high school bands. Her devotion to music prompted her to continue her own studies at New York University where she studied advanced conducting under the tutelage of renowned director/arranger Peter J. Wilhousky. She also attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where she took advanced music courses. While attending a summer session at NC A& T she met Mr. Timothy Reynard Foy and they were married in 1954. In 1956 she was crowned Miss Alumni at Winston-Salem State University.

Over the course of her seventy year music career Louisa found great joy in working at Goler Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, Grace Presbyterian Church, St. Benedict the Moor Catholic Church, Goler Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church and Trinity A.M.E. Zion church in Greensboro, NC as Minister of Music. She also performed in many area concerts and cantatas, weddings and other services and programs. She was the director of the Love Community Choir from 1991-1995 after the passing of founder Laura Wall. She also directed 9,000 singing at a Winston-Salem Recreation event at the fairgrounds. Louisa was also an honoree in the Visual Exhibit of Women in Winston-Salem, sponsored by Union Baptist Church and presented in several locations after the initial ceremony.


Louisa was the last of her generation and has joined her parents, Rena and James; her brothers, George and Lorenzo; and her sister, Eleanor in glory. Over the last thirteen years she was her great-niece, Cheryl Frazier's, greatest joy. She leaves a legacy of love to Brenda (Marion) Frazier, Sylvia A. Douthit, Lorenzo Lyerly Jr., Eleanor Simmons, Frankie Graham, Cassandra (Jerry) Mintz, Reginald Lee, Sheila Andrews, Joanna Wright; a host of great-nieces and nephews; her brother-in-law, Alfred J. Hemphill; and three very devoted friends, Bernice Davenport, Georgia Dunlap and Pauline Jackson.

Louisa's favorite reflection about music sums up all that she learned and was able to impart through music, " Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to soul."

Funeral services will be held at 12noon Monday, January 10, 2011 at Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church with Reverend Johnnie Ruff officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 11am until 12noon on Monday at the Church.