Pittsylvania County leaders are mourning the loss of a “rising star” within the governmental organization who died of COVID-19 complications on Oct. 5.
John Foster, was promoted twice in the two-and-a-half years he worked for the county. The Collinsville resident had started his journey as a heavy equipment mechanic at the Pittsylvania County landfill in February 2019.
About a year ago in October 2020, he look over as solid waste fleet foreman, said Chris Adcock, director of public works in Pittsylvania County.
The 40-year-old was the one responsible for scheduling roll-off drivers on a daily route to collect dumpsters filled with trash throughout the Pittsylvania’s 21 collection sites. He also made sure the truck fleet was operating in tip-top shape.
Many times that meant he had to come to the landfill before dawn. After he prepared the schedule, sometimes he’d have to pitch in and drive routes when needed.
“John was a rising star in our organization and was identified by the executive team as a high potential employee,” Pittsylvania County Administrator David Smitherman said in a statement. “In his short time with the county, he was known as kind, courteous, hardworking, conscientious and grateful.”
In July, Foster was again promoted to be the interim landfill supervisor in addition to his new duties as fleet foreman.
“John accepted each new assignment without complaint and dove into the duties with a desire to learn everything he could and to do the best job for the county that he could,” Adcock said.
He was also studying to obtain the license needed to become the permanent landfill operator and he was ready to take the exam.