Michael K. Ferguson "Ferg"

Michael Keith Ferguson, 81 of Washington D.C., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 11, 2019. Michael was born in Chicago, Illinois, April 3, 1938 to Harry and Ethel Ferguson. Immediately after his birth, doctors were concerned he would not live long because of an obstruction in his bowel. An emergency surgery was performed to remove the obstruction and Michael survived and thrived. During his early life, Michael lived in La Grange, Illinois with his sister Phyllis and brother Harry “Buck”. Michael accepted Christ at the age of 8 and was baptized at the Second Baptist Church in La Grange.

Michael attended and graduated from Lyons Township High School in La Grange where he was senior class president and lettered in wrestling and football. He was the only state championship wrestler for Lyons Township until the 1990s. Although he was recruited by numerous Big 10 Conference schools for his wrestling abilities, Michael chose Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa because of its size and success of their athletic programs. He attended Cornell College from 1958-1961 on an athletic scholarship for football and wrestling. He became a member of Delta Phi Rho fraternity. While wrestling at Cornell, Michael advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament during his sophomore year and competed in the NCAA tournament every year thereafter. After suffering a devastating shoulder injury, he was unable to compete in either sport his senior year.

He enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Augusta Georgia where he met Gwendolyn Kenner. They were married in 1964. While serving in the Army, he worked as a social worker to help support military personnel with their mental health. After being honorably discharged from the Army, the couple moved to Chicago, Illinois where he joined his parents in their successful dry-cleaning business. Their daughter Michele was born in 1967.

After the closing of the cleaning business Michael became an entrepreneur. His desire to become an entrepreneur was sparked around 12 years of age when he sold Jet, Ebony, the Pittsburgh Courier, and Chicago Defender door to door for commission. Michael combined his entrepreneurial spirit and love for food and socializing. He owned and operated the Funky Dog and Deli in Chicago on historic 47th Street.

Later his passion for politics lead him to work for and with Third Ward Alderman Tyrone Kenner. During his work with Ty Kenner, Michael helped numerous people gain jobs and acted as an activist. He married Brenda Smith in 1974. They were blessed with two daughters, Mya and Kelly. The family moved to Washington D.C. where they owned and operated The Ice Cream Shop and The Great Chicago Hot Work. Later, Michael worked as the overnight manager at Kramerbooks and Afterwords Cafe where he developed a reputation among late night clientele as being the “colorful” manager who was concerned for everyone's safety, told funny stories, and would have conversations on any and every topic. One of the most important relationships he developed during this time was a father son relationship with Peter Conner.

Ferg as he was affectionately called, had an eclectic cadre of friends. His effervescent personality afforded him friends from various walks of life. Michael’s friends worked at the White House, were business owners, police officers, and some homeless. He loved people and believed you should show kindness and respect to each person you encounter. He leaves to cherish his memory three daughters: Michele Jolivette Ph. D., Mya Ferguson and Kelly Ferguson Ed.D.; an adopted son, Peter Conner; two grandchildren, Teal (Richard) Williams and Aubrey Yarbrough; three great-grandchildren, Janiah, Gabrielle and Richard III Williams ; sister, Phyllis Sublette; four nieces, Robin Ferguson D.D.S., Janine Ferguson-Marshall, Susie Sublett, and Jeanette Sublett; two nephews Harry Ferguson III and Sam Sublette II; two brothers in -law, Michael Smith and Willie Howard; two sisters in-law, Evelynn Smith and Sylvia Henderson; many great nieces and nephews; and a host of relatives and friends.