Obituary of Mary Bird Ferguson

ORANGE Mary Bird Ferguson CHAPEL HILL — Mary Bird Ferguson, 77, died February 14, 2013 in Chapel Hill. She was born in Heaters, W.Va. in 1936 and raised in Clarksburg, W.Va. As a child, she attended Camp Appalachia, where her mother was a nurse, and later returned as a counselor for many happy years. She attended West Virginia University and Ohio State University where she earned her degree in English and Early Childhood Education. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She was married for 47 years to Lt. Gen. Thomas R. Ferguson Jr., who she survived by 10 years. He was the love of her life. Throughout his Air Force career, she was an elementary school teacher in Texas, Ohio and Virginia. She cared deeply about education and children. After his retirement from the Air Force, they lived for many years in Kiawah, S.C. She moved to Chapel Hill in 2005. She was active in the Presbyterian church and served as a deacon at University Presbyterian in Chapel Hill and John's Island Presbyterian in South Carolina. She is survived by her children, Ritson Ferguson and Liza Monroe and her six grandchildren, Tommy, Caitlin and James Ferguson, and Hannah Limone, Olivia and Madeline Monroe. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 at University Presbyterian at 209 E. Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution in memory of Mary Bird to University Presbyterian's Pastor's Discretionary Fund to further their work in the community she cared for so much.