Edelyn “Ed” Dodson Ferguson, 80, of Roanoke Rapids NC passed away on November 13, 2022.
He was born in Roanoke Rapids in 1942 and grew up in Northampton County. He was the son of the late Thomas McNair Ferguson and Eletha Belle Daughtry Ferguson.
He is survived by his wife Charlotte Baird Ferguson of Roanoke Rapids, a son Robert McNair Ferguson of Roanoke Rapids, a son Christopher Lynn Ferguson and his wife Sonya of Salisbury, NC, a brother Horace Taylor Ferguson and his wife Brenda of Fuquay Varina, NC, a sister Sonya Ferguson Tubbs of Homeland, California; and three wonderful grandchildren: Jamelyn Ferguson Sutherland and her husband Jason Sutherland and daughter Autumn Sutherland of Roanoke Rapids, Thomas Wright Ferguson and James Henry Ferguson, both of Salisbury, NC.
Ed was a licensed Registered Barber in North Carolina and a retired Registered Barber Teacher in Virginia.
Ed served as Vice President of the local chapter of the Master Barbers Association in North Carolina for several years before opening a Barber School for the inmate population at Southampton Correctional Center in Capron, Virginia. In addition to teaching the Barber School for the Department of Correctional Education, Ed also served as the DCE Faculty Representative at all Educational Business meetings and as a Vocational Educational Counselor. Additionally, Ed served as Vocational Apprenticeship Training Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Correctional Education, Bureau of Apprenticeship Training and Department of Labor and Industry, at all Correctional Field Units and Major Institutions within the Southern half of the State of Virginia for many years.
He was transferred to Powhatan Correctional Center outside of Richmond, Virginia where he served in the same capacities for several more years. Ed eventually transferred to Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia for several more years of service before he retired after forty and one-half years of service with the agency.
Several of Ed’s students went on to become Registered Barber Teachers themselves as well as one who became the Lead Hairdresser for a large TV Station in Hollywood, California.
Ed was a graduate of Gaston High School, Durham Institute of Barbering, and completed Teacher Certification classes in addition to other courses through VSU, JMU, VCU, and PDCC. He was a life-time member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church. In addition to his wonderful family and friends, he enjoyed going to church, gospel music, telling jokes to see people laugh, hunting, fishing, water skiing and metal detecting. Ed now looks forward to a new life with his creator, in a non-smoking area. His final wish is that EVERYONE would be baptized and put God first in their life.
A Graveside Service will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at Weavers Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery at 11:00 am with Pastor Rick Russell Officiating.
Donations may be made to: St.Judes Children’s Hospital or Jerusalem/Israel Foundation.
Online condolence can be made to: www.wrennclarkehagan.com