Joseph J. Ferguson

Published 6:20 pm Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Reverend Dr. Joseph J. Ferguson was born on April 19,1943 in Fredericksburg, Virginia to the late Junious and Mrytle Whitfield Ferguson. At an early age, his parents returned to Nansemond County, now the city of Suffolk. Pastor Ferguson was educated in the public schools of Suffolk. Upon graduation from East Suffolk High, he attended Norfolk State University. While at NSU he became employed at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia.

In the year 1962 he accepted the call to the Gospel Ministry and was licensed by the Western Virginia Conference of the Congregational Christian Conference, affiliated with the United Church of Christ. In 1964 he was called to pastor Calvary Christian United Church of Christ in Newport News, Virginia, and St. Paul United Church of Christ, Handsom, Virginia. In 1965 Reverend Ferguson was ordained to the gospel ministry by the United Church of Christ. In 1968 he accepted the call of pastor at St. Luke United Church of Christ in Sedley, Virginia, called to pastor Laurel Hill United Church of Christ in Suffolk, Virginia in 1970 and in 1971 he was called to Chapel Grove United Church of Christ, Windsor, Virginia. God blessed and allowed Pastor Ferguson to pastor all four churches for 27 years. On December 1, 1998, Pastor Ferguson retired from his role as pastor but not from the role of God’s messenger. He continued to preach and teach at St. Paul United Church of Christ for a total of sixty years.

Pastor Ferguson was a 1970 graduate of Virginia Seminary and College, Lynchburg, Virginia where he received an associate degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree. On May 10, 2003, he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg. He served as chairperson of the Franklinton Center Inc., Enfield, North Carolina for 8 years and was a member of the Board of Directors of Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ. Until his health failed, he served as a member of Eastern Virginia Ministers Association, the Suffolk Ministerial Alliance, and the Holland Ministerial Association.

Pastor Ferguson leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Dianette Hargrove Ferguson, children Sheryl Freeman, Victoria Baker, Gustinia Ferguson-Phillips, Vernetta Vines and Christopher Freeman; one sister, Elaine Thornton; grandchildren: Jonetta Hale, Jaeda Hale, Zarion Clark, TaMyra Freeman, Brandon L. Ferguson (Alecia), Joshua T. Leigh, Joseph Ferguson, Danyell Grant, Danah Grant, Carla White and Carl Grant Jr., Corey and BJ Wells; eight great grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, Roger C. Hargrove and James A. Hargrove (Bernadette), a host of cousins, family, friends and church members.

Preceding him in death two daughters, Vanessa Wells Moss (Pete Moss) and Arethia Annette Ferguson Leigh (Josh Leigh) and one brother, Solomon T. Ferguson.

The public viewings for Reverend Ferguson will be held on Thursday, January 16th from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at St. Paul U.C.C., 28301 Handsom Road, Franklin; Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon at Wm. M. Johnson & Sons, Inc.; and Friday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Peebles Funeral Home 1016 East Washington Street, Suffolk, Virginia. A celebration of life will be Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM, Apostolic Faith Church of God, 608 Oak Street, Franklin, Virginia with Reverend Ernest Simmons, Jr. delivering the eulogy; Bishop Ronnie Warren is the pastor. The committal and benediction will follow in Nansemond-Suffolk Cemetery, 1421 Kings Fork Road, Suffolk, Virginia. Service provided by the professional and caring staff of Wm. M. Johnson & Sons Funeral Home, Inc., 224 South Main Street, Franklin, VA. Please share your condolences with the family at wmjohnsonandsons.com