Deacon William Larry Ferguson, the son of the late Mr. William Ferguson and the late Mrs. Roxie Frances Ferguson, was born in Colleton County, SC. He is the ninth of twelve children. They were nine boys and three girls. He and his youngest sister are the only ones now alive. His sister, Mrs. Elease Ferguson Smith resides in Miami, FL with her husband the Rev. James Smith. William was reared in the Jonesville section of Yamessee, SC. He attended Jonesville Elementary School in the community in which he grew. After finishing Elementary School, he attended Shanklin High School in Beaufort, SC. Shanklin High was a private, boarding school. The nearest high school was actually in Walterboro, SC but no school bus transportation was offered because of segregation. As a result, he attended boarding school.

In 1944, his parents were in a terrible car accident. He felt obligated to work to help his parents until his father could return to work. In February 1944, he came to Charleston, SC to start his job career. He was selected to work at Raybestos Manhattan Engineered Products as a machine operator. After a year and a half of recuperation, his father returned to work at the Bomb Plant in Aiken, SC. His father continued working until his retirement. However, William did not return to high school. He continued working in Charleston at Raybestos Manhattan.

On the fourth Sunday of June 1945, William and Kathleen met. Kathleen and the Eastside Baptist Church Sunday School were enroute to a Sunday School Anniversary Program in Beaufort, SC. William was traveling on the bus to see his friends who went to high school with him.

Eastside Baptist Church and church work can be credited with the beginning of this enduring love and wonderful life. The love that touched their hearts and brought them together grew very rapidly. Before Kathleen finished high school, William was asking for her hand in marriage. After finishing high school on June 6, 1946, and taking tailoring under the tutelage of Mr. Graham, the tailoring teacher at Burke High, Kathleen entered the job market. However, she was not able to find a suitable job in Charleston. She went to New York City, NY where she found employment sewing in a tailoring factory making suits for men.

Less than two years later, on Sunday, February 8, 1948, at 4:00 PM at Eastside Baptist Church, William joined hands in Holy Matrimony with his dearly beloved Kathleen. In the summer of June 1948, they honeymooned at Virginia Beach, VA and New York, NY.

After returning home, Kathleen changed careers. In 1950, she entered college, graduated and became a teacher. She received a BS degree in Elementary Education from Morris College, Sumter, SC; and an MS degree in Education from South Carolina State College, Orangeburg, SC. She also did post graduate studies at The Citadel, Charleston, SC, through a Federal Grant from the National Science Foundation. She is a member of Eastside Missionary Baptist Church. She serves as a Sunday School Teacher, Youth Director, Missionary President, and on the church newsletter team. She has served as an Usher, Secretary of the Usher Board, President of the Deaconess Board, and Director of Bible Vacation School.

In the New Ashley Missionary Baptist Association, New Ashley Sunday School, and Baptist Training Union Congress, she was elected as the first Youth Director for 10 years and Director of Christian Education for 33 years. In 1996 she was elected Dean of Christian Education. Mrs. Ferguson has enrolled in the Leadership Education Program through the Christian Education Department, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. to become certified as Dean. She completed Phase I requirements in the summer of 1997. This fall she started on Phase II. Four phases are required plus a research paper to become certified. She is a member of the Burke High School Class of 1946. She serves on the Good Cheer Committee. She is an active member of the Morris College Alumni Association and is the Treasurer of the Charleston Chapter and recruits students for the College. Kathleen is a church and civic worker, and a retired teacher with 35 years of faithful service. She retired from the Charleston County School System.

William is a member of Eastside Baptist Church. He was ordained a deacon in 1949. In 1979, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Deacons. He is the Church Clerk and Chairman of the Finance Committee. He has served in many facets at Eastside. He began his service as an Usher. He has been President of the Usher Board, Adult Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, and Director for many years of Bible Vacation School. He has done many tasks in building the church both spiritually and materially. He works diligently with the New Ashley Missionary Association Brotherhood Department and the Association’s Parent Body. He also serves in the New Ashley Sunday School and the Baptist Training Union Congress. He is President of the United Deacons Christian Union. He is also a Past President of the Orleans Woods Homeowners Association. William is a church and civic worker, and a retired worker from Raybestos Manhattan Engineered Products. He made parts for airplanes and automobiles. He retired from the Rubber Specialty Department after being employed for 43 and one half years.

To this union four children were born, three sons and one daughter. This opened up a whole new universe in their lives. In order of birth, the children are: Dr. Larry J. Ferguson, Dentist, Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Charleston, SC; The Rev. Dr. George St. A. Ferguson, Sr., Founder and Pastor, Christ Creative Baptist Church and President & CEO of Ferguson and Associates-A Professional Contracts Consulting Firm, Upper Marlboro, MD; Mrs. Karen J. Ferguson-Nelson, Executive Director, The Leadership Forum and Diversity Consultant, Nelstar Enterprises Consulting Firm, Milwaukee, WI; and Mr. Juan M. Ferguson, Founder, Nubians United Foundation, Director, Mentorship Project, Youth In Progress, and Case Coordinator, Sojourners Case Management Program, Counseling Center of Lake View, Chicago, IL.

Their three sons and one daughter have added to the family three fine and extraordinary daughters-in-law who are like daughters and one fine and extraordinary son-in-law who is like a son. Our daughters-in-law are as follows: Mrs. Mabel Gaillard Ferguson, Licensed Independent Social Worker and Marketing and Public Relations Manager for Dr. Ferguson, Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Charleston, SC; Mrs. Pauline Bolden Ferguson, Licensed Social Worker, Clinical Social Worker, University of Maryland Medical Hospital, Baltimore, MD; and Mrs. Tonya Laniece Rhodes Ferguson, Project Administrator, Enhanced Business Services of Human Resources, Ameritech Corporate Offices, Chicago, IL. Our son-in-law is Mr. Stanford Ardean Nelson, Founder of NELSTAR Enterprises Home Inspection and Renovation Projects He is also Building Maintenance Officer, Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, WI.

Dea. William and Mrs. Kathleen Ferguson are the grandparents of nine loving grandchildren. They live in the cities of Charleston, SC, Upper Marlboro, MD, and Milwaukee, WI.

To God Be The Glory For The Great Things He Has Done!

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