Marie Ferguson

Funeral services for Marie Mitchell Ferguson, age 95, of Petersburg, Tennessee, will be held at 2 PM on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Higgins Funeral Home with Bro. Milton Nesbitt officiating. Burial will follow in Old Orchard Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 12 PM until the time of service at the funeral home.

Born at home on the family farm in Petersburg on July 15, 1929, Marie was the eldest daughter of the late Thomas Edwin Mitchell, Sr., and Bessie Vermell Turner Mitchell. She graduated in 1948 from The Morgan Prep School for Boys in Petersburg and went on to earn her degree from Draughns Business College in Nashville in 1950. Following her education, she began her career with First American National Bank in Nashville. In 1950, Marie married the love of her life, the late Norris Keith Ferguson. Together they shared 56 years of devoted marriage until his passing in 2007.

A gracious Southern lady, Marie was known for her generous spirit, warm hospitality, and deep Christian faith. She was a long-time member of Fayetteville First Baptist Church and the Petersburg Garden Club. Her home was a place of welcome and comfort, where friends and family were always well-fed, well-loved, and made to feel special. An exceptional cook and thoughtful hostess, Marie took joy in caring for others, ensuring every detail was attended to with love. To her grandchildren, she was affectionately known as "Grand Mama", and to her great-grandchildren, she was affectionately known as "GiGi" - a name that spoke to her cherished role in their lives. Marie passed away peacefully at Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro on May 3, 2025.

Marie is survived by her daughter, Karen (Jim) Dickson of Rockvale, TN; grandchildren, Holden Phillips of Rockvale, TN, Melissa "Missy" Ferguson (Derryal) Strickland of Jacksonville, FL, Jennifer Ferguson (Chris) Jessup of Fruit Cove, FL, and Ashley Ferguson (Bradley) Bonning of Fruit Cove, FL; great-grandchildren, Abigail Jessup, Annabelle Jessup, Henry Bonning, and Hudson Bonning; sister, Elaine (Lloyd) Chancellor of Madison, MS; and brother, Thomas Edwin (Jo) Mitchell, Jr. of Petersburg, TN. In addition to her parents and husband, Marie was preceded in death by her son, Norris Keith Ferguson, Jr.; and brothers, Turner Franklin Mitchell and Lawrence Andrew Mitchell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Marie Mitchell Ferguson.