Calvin Dempsey Woodrow Ferrell Jr.

Woody was born October 29, 1940 in Raleigh, NC to the late Patricia Beck and Calvin Dempsey Ferrell. Woody graduated from Needham B. Broughton High School, Class of 1960, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was employed for 40 years with IBM, retiring as a Senior Systems Manager.

Woody was well versed in many subjects, especially sports history. He was an avid fan of both the Atlanta Braves and his beloved Tarheels, especially football, and enjoyed watching both teams as well as a variety of sports.

Woody never let his disability define him. After contracting polio at 14, he refused to see himself as ‘handicapped’. As a young boy and an adult, he loved playing all sports, and when he could no longer compete, he found another way to stay in the game – managing a local softball team in the 1970s and finally leading them to a championship season. His determination, love of life, and devotion to others carried through every part of his journey.

He enjoyed attending the Back Bench Boys Club meetings for lunch and reminiscing the old Raleigh Days. He was an avid reader of the JRR Tolkien Series, as well as sports history and many other topics, he also enjoyed listening to Classical music. Woody was also a very active member of Creedmoor Baptist Church. One of his favorite activities was taking drives and getting White Chocolate Raspberry coffee with Paige.

Woody was very personable and made many friends throughout every step of his life. He maintained lifelong friendships first formed from his elementary school at Fred Olds, through his high school years at Broughton, and later friends, as well as many close friends with the Players Retreat. If you were friends with Woody, he was your friend for life.

Woody is survived by his children, Stephanie Roland, and her husband, Tim of Tupelo, MS, Jon Ferrell, and his wife, Beth, of Raleigh, Paige Ferrell, of Raleigh; grandchildren, James Yanacsek, and his wife, Sierra, Jacob Roland, Megan Roland, Samuel Ferrell; sister, Susan Honeycutt, and her husband, Bill; brother, Michael Ferrell, and his wife, Gayla; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his wife and parents, Woody was preceded in death by his grandsons, Matthew and Joshua Roland.

A funeral service was held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 2:00pm in the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home. Burial followed in Raleigh Memorial Park. The family received visitors prior to the service, beginning at 12:30pm.

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