Forrest Ferrell

Forrest Ferrell
September 08, 2022
Hickory, North Carolina - Forrest Andrew Ferrell, 84, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Born August 26, 1938 in Greensboro North Carolina he was the son of the late Henry Clifton Ferrell and Louise Williams Ferrell. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Dr. Henry Clifton Ferrell, Jr. of Greenville N.C. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Becky Hailey Ferrell, daughters Hailey Lail (Scott), Sarah Temple (Jack) and Leslie Forrest Ferrell; grandchildren Graham Banks Lail, Ferrell Moore Lail, Jack Edward Temple and Sierra Louise Temple; brother Malcolm Rea Ferrell (Alexey) of Greensboro, Helen Morton (Richard) of Greensboro, Anne Quillen (Bill) of Crossville TN, sister-in-law Martha Ferrell of Greenville and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was a 1956 graduate of Greensboro Senior High School, a 1960 graduate of High Point College (now High Point University) and received his LLB degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1963.
He began his career in law as Assistant County Attorney in Guilford County. He began private practice in Greensboro in 1964 and then moved to Hickory N.C. and continued in private practice until 1974 when he was elected as resident Superior Court Judge and served with distinction for 24 years. Upon his retirement from the bench he joined the law firm of Sigmon Clark where he practiced law until his illness. Ferrell was a mentor to many young lawyers.
During his tenure on the bench he served as Senior Resident Judge, as chairman of the N.C. Criminal Justice and Education and Training Standards' Commission, Vice President of the NC Bar Association, Board of Directors of NC Judicial Conference. was appointed to the NC Courts Commission, served as delegate at the National Conference on Sentencing, National Conference on Rural Justice, and National Conference of Judges, and was president of the NC Conference of Superior Court Judges.
He was a member of St. Albans Episcopal Church. He was a very active member of the community serving in many different capacities including PTA President of both College Park Junior High School and Hickory High School, coach of youth basketball for the Hickory Recreation Department, member of the Board of Foothills Conservancy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Catawba Valley Community College, member of the Hickory Rotary Club, member of the Hickory Recreation Commission. He was a life long supporter of the Democratic Party.
Ferrell was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Jim Hunt in 1998, a Lifetime Achievement Award from High Point University in 2014, and the Citizen Lawyer Award in 2017.
Of his many proud accomplishments Ferrell and friend Gene Sigmon organized and coached the Catawba Valley AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) youth basketball program promoting women's athletics. Over 50 college scholarships were awarded to participating female athletes and two state championship games were won.
Ferrell was an outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish, cut wood, and ride motorcycles. He loved the law, he loved his family and friends and he loved helping others achieve their goals whatever they were.
A service of thanksgiving and celebration of life will be held on Friday, September 16 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 130 39th Avenue Place NW in Hickory. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Forrest A. Ferrell Hickory High School Athletic Scholarship Sigmon Clark, PO Drawer 1470, Hickory, NC or to the charity of one's choosing. The service will be livestreamed by the church.
The Ferrell family will be forever grateful to the greatest caregivers ever: Greg, Aby, Ada, Sonia, Dilma, Helen, Debra, and Robert, as well as the staff at Carolina Caring.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory is serving the Ferrell family.