Irene Fogo and her Braves fan friends
Irene Fogo is celebrating her 103rd birthday at StoryPoint with her family and friends. She has been a prominent member of the community since she was brought to Chattanooga by her beloved uncle at the age of eight when both of her parents passed in Alabama.
She attended Alpine School and Chattanooga High School.
Irene met the love of her life, Byron Mills Fogo Jr., in the elevator going to the shared law office of Byron’s father, Byron Mills Fogo, Sr., Esq. and Irene’s uncle, Newton Andrew Cobb, Esq. They married on May 31, 1938 and their happy family consisted of three lovely children, Dorothy Anne Fogo (Dot Jones Davis), Mildred Lois Fogo (Millie Fogo) and Byron Mills Fogo III. Added to her family are six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren which she adores and cherishes, as they do her.
Since she had lost her parents at an early age, she had written an article where she said that she wanted to live long enough to know her grandchildren and watch them grow up. Praise God that He answered her prayers.
Her children have memories of a devoted, enthusiastic mother always giving to take care of them as well as others. One memory was when they first moved to their new home in North Chattanooga, the older girls came home to see that their bedroom had the most beautiful warm yellow-flowered wallpaper with new bedspreads to match. Plus, they would be sleeping on the sweet-smelling sheets she had hung out to be warmed by the sun.
Every night, Irene would be sitting in her corner green chair quietly reading her Bible. She loved the Lord and was always going the extra mile for “everyone”.
Supportive is a word that characterizes Irene. It didn’t matter what her children were involved in, Irene was “there” for them, cheering them on, whether it be baseball, volleyball, softball, basketball or other school activities. She loved their sporting events, being voted “The Most Loyal Fan” at City High School. She also was an avid Braves baseball fan where she and her friends were featured in the Atlanta Fan Book.
During her years of early marriage, she utilized her skills as a seamstress to sew for others, as well as making clothes for her children. She then became a kindergarten teacher. An astute mind for business, she had her own insurance agency, Cobb Insurance Agency, in North Shore where she also resided for 71 years.
Sadly, her husband passed on May 2, 1974. She never remarried.
Irene is truly “one of a kind”. Her garden could be featured in “Home & Garden”, her homemade fudge was the “Best” in the world along with her homemade jelly and she made the “Best” German chocolate cake. Irene would weep when you wept and rejoice when you rejoiced, always letting her children and others know that God heard cares that were not even voiced.
Irene is a woman of this century who personifies faith, hope and love.
Irene Fogo