Darren LaRan Foreman

Darren LaRan "BoBo" Foreman, the first-born son of Lee Odis and Catherline Thigpen-Foreman, passed from this earth at the age of 62. On late Saturday night, December 4, 2021, due to medical difficulties, Darren was transported to the Medical Center of South Arkansas, where he later transitioned and was rewarded his wings.

Darren was born November 10, 1959, in his parents' home at 1023 Norsworthy St., El Dorado, Arkansas. His mother, Cat, and father Lee Odis Foreman said that Darren was a gift of joy from GOD. He was baptized in his early childhood years, which aligned with their Christian family values. His mother, Cat Foreman, taught him about our Lord and the responsibility of family present and past. He became the Head of the household at a young age after his father, Odis Foreman, passed away tragically in a car crash. Referred to in his family as "BoBo," he was the second oldest of four children; Cathey Buggs-Lewis, Sonia Renee Foreman-Smith, and Daryl Lee Foreman. His siblings would describe him as stubborn during their upbringing because he was firm in his role of being the "Head of the Household".

Darren was greatly recognized in his later childhood years for his basketball skills, publicly at Rogers Junior High, where he was known for his famous "4th quarter, seconds count down, half-court, all net jump shot," which was often the final score of the game. Locally in the neighborhood of New Edition, he was known for taking his neighbors" to school in basketball." Darren was also known for his excellent portrayal in track & field, kickboxing, and the art of Karate Kung Fu. He also had an admirable love for chess, one of his favorite games. Most people were unaware that Darren had many different hidden talents, but one of his favorites was the art of drawing. He was great at sketching, creating posters, and designing clothes. He was known for drawing things in abstract ways that would not occur to most people. Darren loved to watch cowboy and Indian movies, crime thriller shows, and martial art action films. Whenever reenacting the scenes he had seen in movies or tv shows, he would always be the "good guy" or the "star" and always playing the winning role, never the losing one.

Darren graduated from El Dorado High School with the class of '78. He obtained many scholarships, which he used to attend his first two years at Southern Arkansas University Technical Branch in East Camden, Arkansas, as a student-athlete pursuing his basketball career. Darren later attended Southern Arkansas University, located in Magnolia, Arkansas, where he continued playing college basketball and pursuing his physical education degree with an emphasis in kinesiology.

Donna and Darren Foreman met when he was a sophomore at the university of Magnolia. The couple wed in 1981 and were blessed with a son, Darren Foreman, Jr. In 1982, the couple traveled to Hawaii after Donna Foreman joined the Military Intelligence Branch in the South Pacific. The journey across the ocean would be the beginning of a worldwide adventure taking the couple and their young child to Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, and many other countries. Darren would experience working in several countries throughout the world during his travels. After Donna's deployment and return from two Gulf wars and Middle East conflicts, the couple would divorce in 1993. Darren returned to El Dorado, and Donna and Darren co-parented their son when he joined his dad during his years of high school.

Darren started dating LaTangela Foreman in 2002, and the couple later wed on May 25, 2003. From this union, Darren gained two sons, Jerome and Kevonte Austin, and their daughter, Tangela Le'Catherline Foreman. In 2005 they moved to Greenwood, Louisiana, where they purchased a home. They were married for seven years until their separation in May of 2010. They remained mutual friends, co-parenting their daughter until Darren's Homegoing.

Darren later returned to college to further his education and received a degree in education. While living in Shreveport, he taught history at Broadmoor Middle Laboratory School and spent his after-school time coaching the basketball team. He later returned to Arkansas this year, where he continued teaching history at Murmil Heights Educational Center and mentoring students. His contribution will truly be missed.

Darren was preceded in death by his parents Lee Odis and Catherline Thigpen Foreman; maternal grandparents Tommy (Caesar Allen) and Trudie Mae Gray Thigpen; paternal grandparents Harvey Lee and Mattie Lucy Lee Sumler Foreman; infant brother Darris LaWayne Foreman and sister Linda White Murphy.

He is survived by his five children; Darren LaRan Foreman Jr, Tangela Le'Catherline Foreman, Jerome Clinton Austin Jr, Kevonte' and De'Korey Austin. His grandchildren, Lennox Alston Foreman and Ledger Avery Foreman, His four siblings, Cathey Gennell Buggs-Lewis, Dorothy Ann Cromwell Polk, and Sonia Renee Foreman, and Daryl Lee Foreman (Petie).