Aaron C Ferguson

Aaron Cornelius Ferguson was born to Allen Ferguson and Athel Gladden on May 25th, 1937, in Washington D.C. The Ferguson family had moved to Washington D.C. before Aaron’s birth as part of the “Great Migration” in which many Black Americans left the Jim Crow South. Aaron would later graduate from Fairmont Heights High School in Landover Maryland.

His aunts arranged for Aaron to attend college, but shortly after high school graduation Aaron enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1955 to 1958. Following military service, Aaron went to work at the US Post Office. For a time, he sorted mail on the railroads. He would later work in the Merrifield Post Office for many years. His co-workers knew him for his sense of humor, hard work ethic, the advice he gave on the job, and his distinctive laugh. Like many of his generation, he frequently worked long hours to provide for those he loved and cared about.

Aaron was married twice. First to Evelyn Francis Zeigler and later to Betty Whitlock Sheppard. His children from his first marriage included Marsden Ferguson, Robert Ferguson, Nora Ferguson, Aaron Ferguson Jr., Maurice Ferguson, and Allen Ferguson. His two stepchildren from his second marriage included Karen Sheppard and Ronald Sheppard Jr. He also leaves behind numerous grandchildren.

Through much of his life he was active in church, both Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Alexandria Virginia and Second Baptist Church in Las Vegas Nevada. Over the years he participated in both the church choir and as an usher. Before and during retirement he enjoyed golfing, watching sports, visiting casinos, and spending time with his wife Betty. In his later years he also spent a lot of time caring for and taking his step-grandchildren Alyssa and Jacob Sheppard to activities. He will be dearly missed by his entire family and friends.