Lennis "Fergie" Earl Ferguson

Mr. Lennis Earl Ferguson, age 81, of Douglasville, Georgia passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Known as Poppy to his grandchildren and Fergie to his friends, he was born the son of the late Nellie Mae Ferguson and the late Edgar Eugene Ferguson on September 23, 1938 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He attended Bearden High School in Knoxville, where he fell in love with his school days sweetheart, Carol Mayers. Carol and Fergie married on August 17, 1959 in Miami, Florida and soon gave birth to their first born, Michael Andrew. He was a decorated Veteran, having served his country in the U.S. Air Force. He was awarded the Purple Heart while serving in the Vietnam War.

Fergie joined the Air Force in the winter of December 1956 and worked on B-47s as an Aircraft Electrician and on B-52s as a Tail Gunner. He was the number one troubleshooter and won an accommodation from his Wing Commander for being so. Fergie and his family were stationed all over the country during his time in the service. While based at Minot Air Force Base in Minot, North Dakota, they welcomed three additional members to their family; daughters, Julianne, Susan Kay and Kimberly Marie.

Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1965 he became employed at Lockheed Aircraft Company as an Aircraft Technician and troubleshooter on the C-5 and KC-135. Soon, their fourth and final daughter, Tammy Lynn was born in Marietta, Georgia in 1967.

Following his time with Lockheed, Fergie transitioned from war hero to Gunsmith; Firearms Instructor to NRA Affiliated Instructor; Artist to Poet, Cowboy to Deputy Sheriff to Bodyguard. He became a firearms instructor and Director of Operations for Sionics, located in Powder Springs, Georgia, and served as advisor and confidant to Lieutenant General Mitchell L. WerBell III, soon becoming the best of friends. As an instructor, his keen marksmanship earned him praise from many of his students, including celebrities such as ABC News Reporter, Geraldo Rivera, the Atlanta Swat Team and Bobby Bass, the stunt body double for Burt Reynolds. Fergie was featured on a weekly ABC news report 20/20 as an instructor and Director of Operations for Sionics on the series Killed or Be Killed and was also featured on the cover of Eagle Magazine. He was later awarded a Commission of Major by the Royal Free Afghan from the King of Afghanistan while the King was in exile. While at Sionics, he was a Bodyguard to politician Lyndon LaRouche and numerous Corporate CEOs of sizeable corporations.

After a brief career in law enforcement where he served the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department as Deputy Sheriff, Fergie self-taught himself to oil paint. He learned to paint by studying the works of master painters, often losing himself to reading books and watching videos, which frequently turned into afternoons of self-study. His work includes landscapes, flowers and paintings of cypresses, farmhouses and wheat fields. His paintings are proudly displayed in the homes of his children and friends.

During the time Fergie served as a Deputy Sheriff, he opened, owned and operated Fergie’s Custom Gun Shop in Powder Springs, Georgia. He worked as gunsmith to James Drury, the star of The Virginian and was also gunsmith to the owner of the Navy Arms Gun Company.

In the late nineties and early two thousand, Fergie and his wife were members of the Cherokee Gun Club in Gainesville, Georgia, where they attended monthly Cowboy Action Gun Shoots, dressing in 1800s Western and/or Indian attire for competition shooting.

Fergie loved his family and never went to bed without saying “I love you”. He taught all of his girls to shoot and to be aware of their surroundings. He enjoyed traveling, having visited Mexico, Canada and 38 states. Fergie was the life of the party, was a good storyteller and knew anything about everything. His experiences working, traveling and his family have greatly influenced his writings, religious and political views.

In addition to his parents, Fergie was preceded in death by a son, Michael Andrew Ferguson; two brothers, Jack Ferguson and Tom Ferguson; sister-in-law, Maxine Ferguson; and a brother-in-law, Hubert Ollis.

Fergie is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Carol Ferguson; daughters, Julianne Ferguson Martin (Joseph Coppola), Susie Ferguson (Doug) Martin, Kimberly Ferguson (Tim) Thomas, and Tammy Lynn Ferguson (Mark) Stanley; sisters, Janet (David) Beavers and Carol Ollis; sister-in-law, Kathy Ferguson; eight grandchildren, Michele Ferguson, Justine Martin (Danny) Hamilton, Chelsie (Cory) Stehlik, Nikki (Taylor) Davis, Mimi Rogers, Dylan Stanley, Bo Stanley and Blake Stanley; and five great-grandchildren and one on the way, Samantha Ferguson-Busby, Chad Ferguson-Busby, Chase Ferguson-Busby, Nora Stehlik, Audrey Davis and Evelyn Stehlik (on the way); as well as several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 12:00 Noon until 2:00 PM. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 2:00 PM in the Rosehaven Chapel.

Please take time to leave condolences with the family or share memories of Mr. Ferguson by visiting www.whitleygarner.com

Services have been entrusted to the care of Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home, 8640 Rose Avenue, Douglasville, Georgia 30134