Herman White Ferguson

ROCKY MOUNT – Herman White Ferguson, age 106, passed away on Friday, January 13, 2023 Born in Chapel Hill, TN on December 28, 1916, he was the son of the late John Brim Ferguson and Annie Brown White Ferguson. He was also preceded in death by his wife Betty Mottern Ferguson, and his grandson William Brim Buchanan. Herman was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount since he and his late wife, Betty, moved to the community in 1983. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in 1939 and his M.S. in 1940. After joining the Navy, he served aboard the U.S. Rapidan in the Aleutian Islands during WWII. He began his career with the Division of Geology of the Tennessee Department of Conservation. In 1951, he was the State Geologist supervising all activities of the division of Geology. In 1952 he became a geologist with U.S. Steel Corporation. He carried out investigations of various coal and non-metallic deposits in the United States, Australia, and South Africa until his retirement in 1981. As a child, Herman had an interest in genealogy. In retirement, this interest became a hobby which resulted in the publication of 14 books. The first book was about his own family in Tennessee. That research led to an interest in the records and deeds of Mecklenburg County. In 1989 he received an award of Special Merit from the North Carolina Society of Historians for Family History. During 2003 and 2004, he received recognition from the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society with awards for abstracting, editing, and publishing county records. In 1989 and again in 2008, he was the recipient of awards from the NC Genealogical Society for Excellence in Publishing. In 2006 he received awards for contributions and efforts over many years in abstracting, editing, and publishing of Mecklenburg County records. In December of 2021 he received the Old North State Award. Herman is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law Suzanne and Bill Buchanan of Rocky Mount and Rebecca and Ron Azzone of Naples, FL; grandchildren and great grandchildren include Brad and Tiffany Buchanan of Brentwood, TN, their children Kenton, Hadley, and Briggs Buchanan; Abby and Colin Neblett of Dallas, TX and their children Reed, Lily, and Hall Neblett. A Service of Remembrance officiated by Pastor Matt Baker will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount, 153 N Church St, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Visitation with the family will be prior to the service inside the Fellowship Hall from 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in Herman’s name to the Endowment Fund at First Presbyterian Church of Rocky Mount, 153 N Church St, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. The family would like to thank Herman’s kind and compassionate caregivers of Stacy’s Home Healthcare and the staff of Nash Hospice and Palliative Care. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.