John A. Ferguson Sr.

Family-Placed Death Notice

John Alexander Ferguson, Sr., of Atlanta, Georgia, died July 22, 2003, after a long bout with cancer. He was born on January 22, 1926 in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, to Julia Borromeo Sullivan and Edward East Ferguson, retired Army. His family then moved to College Park where he lived for most of the next 50 years before moving to Brookwood Hills in Atlanta in 1976. He graduated from Georgia Military Academy in 1943 and the University of Georgia in 1949 where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He intertupted his college years from 1944 through 1946 to serve with the U.S. Army-Air Corps 319th Bomb Squadron, 90th Bombardment group in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as an aerial gunman. After college, he entered the insurance business and later joined the Marsh and McLennan companies. He worked at Marsh for 30 years and retired as a Vice President. He was a charter member of The Commerce Club as well as a member of the Metropolitan Serra Club of Atlanta, a Catholic organization promoting the priesthood. He was an active member of Ansley Golf Club and The Georgia Senior Golfers Association. He also served on the board of the Catholic Family Social Services during the 1960's, and he was especially proud of his work with the Village of St. Joseph. John was devoted to his family, church and friends. He enjoyed the game of golf and loved watching the Atlanta Braves. He was a long-time supporter of GMA/Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia, where he graduated in 1943 and where his wife, Frances Ann, taught for over 21 years. His four children and eight of his grandchildren also graduated or currently attend. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Frances Ann Allen, and his children: Dr. Daniel S. and Jennifer Ferguson, John A. Jr. and Mina Ferguson, Julia Ann and Christopher Glenn Sawyer, and E. Allen and Maureen Ferguson. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Sarah E. Ferguson, Ian M. Ferguson, Gillian M. Ferguson, John Alexander Ferguson III, Joseph D. Ferguson, Laura M. Ferguson, Frances E. Sawyer, C. Glenn Sawyer, William M. Ferguson, Bray A. Ferguson, John A. (Jack) Ferguson and Georgia M. Ferguson. He is the uncle of Jane Ferguson Graham, Edward W. Ferguson and Mary Julia Morgan. A memorial mass will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the King Friday, July 25, 2003 at 10:30 a.m. Family visitation will be in the church Parish Hall immediately following the Mass. Interment at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Hospice Atlanta, 1244 Park Vista Drive, Atlanta,GA 30319; The Frances and John Ferguson Library Fund at Woodward Academy, 1662 Rugby Avenue, College Park, GA 30337, and the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720. Arrangements made by H.M. Patterson & Son Spring Hill. 404-876-1022.