Frances Ferguson

Father, in thy gracious keeping, leave me now my servant sleeping.

On Friday August 15, 2025, God chose to call one of His faithful and loyal servants and now she rests in the arms of the Lord. After a brief illness, she gained her wings surrounded by her family. Sister Frances Ferguson was born on February 6, 1937, in Bedford County to the late James and Mamie Calloway. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her infant granddaughter, Jaelynn R. Ferguson, three brothers, Jack, Bernard and Melvin Lee and one sister, Vivian Calloway Davis.

At an early age, Sister Ferguson professed her love for Christ and was baptized at the Holcomb Rock Baptist Church. She attended Bedford County Public Schools and graduated from Susie Gibson High School. Soon after, she began her career with Lynchburg City Schools, retiring after 27 years of service. She was not only an exceptional employee, but a mother, friend and confidant to her work family.

In 1954 while working in Connecticut, she met who would become the love of her life, Sylvester Ferguson and they were married in 1957. They navigated life together for 68 years and were inseparable. To this union four children were born, Sheila Day, Barbara Ferguson Brown (David), Sylvester Ferguson Jr. (Gloria) and Johnny R. Ferguson (Tracy).

She was loved dearly by her family, and she was also there to love, nurture, and care for her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and children, she leaves to cherish her memory, 11 grandchildren, Shani Ferguson, Shanta Trayham (Terry), Epiphany Harvey, Brittany Brown, Jessica Ferguson, Jasmine Brown (Jeffrey), Nicholas Ferguson (Tonya), Devonte Brown, Sally Francis, Janaiah Ferguson and Jiselle Ferguson; 10 great grandchildren, Dominique Ferguson, Shamya Boyd, Braylon Boyd, Tayeden Trayham, Jordan Brown, Jason Brown, Bellamy Macklin, Nola Ferguson, Maliyah Brown, Ava Ferguson; and 2 great-great grandchildren, Ocean Ferguson and Prince Ferguson. She also had two special nephews that she loved like her own, Lorenzo Davis Jr. and Derek Davis.

She led by example, and she will be remembered as a strong, determined and fiercely independent woman. We will miss her every day.

A special note of gratitude to all the wonderful people who helped care for Sister Frances Ferguson, Sheila Day, Barbara Brown, Shani Ferguson, Janaiah Ferguson, Mary Powell, Evelyn Sharpe and the Centra Hospice Team.

A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Holcomb Rock Baptist Church. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.