Jackie R. Ferguson

Jackie Ray Ferguson peacefully entered his eternal rest on Friday, October 31, 2025 at the age of 81. Visitation will be Monday, November 10, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Jackson Memory Funeral Home in Town Creek, AL. The Memorial service will be Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Town Creek United Methodist Church, officiated by Reverend Tony Datuin.
Jackie was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Ferguson and Ozell Clark Ferguson, and his brother, Albert Ralph Ferguson. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Sandra Roberson Ferguson; sisters in law Ella Pritchett Ferguson, Linda Roberson Stephenson (Barry), brothers in law Wayne Roberson (Hayley) and Jon Roberson.
Coach Ferguson graduated from Hazlewood High School and Florence State University and spent his career in secondary education as one of the most successful football and track coaches in the state. In 1966, he began his career as the junior high coach at Muscle Shoals for one year before moving over to Athens High School as an assistant coach for four seasons working for his soon to be mentor, Larry McCoy. Coach McCoy taught him how to be a head coach, and Mary McCoy taught Sandra how to be a coach's wife. His first head coaching job was at West Morgan in Trinity, Alabama where he had three successful seasons including finishing third in the state in 1972. He then took the Brooks High School position in 1974 for two seasons with a record of 15-5. His next stop was Hazlewood High School for three seasons from 1976-1979 taking the team to the state championship game in 1978. He returned to Athens High School in 1980 for five seasons which included one playoff appearance.
In 1985 Jackie came back home to Hazlewood. The five seasons with Hazlewood resulted in three state championships in football and another three in track. Coach is remembered as a football coach, but he enjoyed coaching track just as much. Coach then retired but could not stay away from football. He worked at Bethel College as an assistant coach and later as an assistant at Coffee and Colbert County. He then became the head coach at Colbert County for two years. He also spent multiple seasons working with the Brooks High School football team as a volunteer. His overall record as a head coach was 171-66-2.
Jackie was named coach of the year 3 times, he coached in the North-South All Star game twice and once in the Alabama-Mississippi All Star Classic. He is a member of the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. Dozens of his players went on to play college football and several played professionally.
Coach's passions away from athletics involved animals and vehicles of every sort. He always had dogs, and got in the cutting horse business in the 1990s. He enjoyed buying and selling anything with a motor in it: cars, trucks tractors, RVs, boats, and motorcycles. He developed a passion for the wide-open spaces out West and took many trips to ride horses and snowmobiles. He enjoyed an occasional go at the slots in Mississippi. Coach and Sandra also took many trips, cruises, and camping excursions to see the country with fellow travelers Jerry and Patti Gann.
Coach never lost his love for Friday nights in the fall. He was always at one high school game or another, usually with his lifelong friend, Chuck Booth, supporting his former players who have become administrators, head coaches, and assistants as a result of his 40+ years in the business of building young men.
A special thanks to Sue Smith, Pat Lee, and the staff at Helen Keller Memorial Hospital for their loving assistance through this journey.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Coach's favorite charity, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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