Eddie Mack Ferguson

Born on April 28, 1952 in Starkville, Mississippi, he was a loving son of the late John Mack Ferguson and late Novel Modean Smithon Ferguson; devoted brother to Janice and Gene; adoring Poppa of Annie, Molly, Abbie, Jack, Dakota, Cheyenne, and Nevada. He was also a loving husband first to Harriet, then to Melinda (who he had “loved his entire life, and finally got her”).

Celebration of Life Services will be held Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, with a visitation to follow the service.

His entire career was devoted to the insurance industry where he worked predominately as a third-party administrator, representing corporate entities requiring life, health, and auxiliary health benefits. Ultimately, he owned and served as president of his own insurance company, Arlington Benefits Concepts. He received an untold number of prestigious awards for his hard work. While he was officially retired, he still continued to represent several major clients who simply could not--and would not--let him rest on his well-deserved laurels.

Eddie, also known as “Fast Eddie” and “Big Eddie” by close friends and business associates--but simply called “E” by his wife, Melinda-- was a giant of a man, with an extraordinarily generous heart. He absolutely loved the fact that he was both a Taurus (Western zodiac sign) and a Dragon (Chinese zodiac sign)–astrological signs accurately reflecting his strong personality–and he proudly wore a custom-designed necklace to advertise that fact to the entire world.

Despite being born in Starkville, Mississippi, Eddie was meant to be a Texan, which is where he spent the majority of his adult life with his wife, Harriet. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved competitive bass fishing and working as a hunt master for more than a decade with a dove hunting club. Eddie’s overwhelmingly competitive nature allowed him to excel in so many areas, including football, basketball, and softball (at Spring Valley High School, and as a young adult on several organized teams), darts, eight-ball and nine-ball, and–most especially- trivia, where he held a national ranking and was much sought after as a “team player.” Since playing sports himself was no longer an option at his age, he was a huge fan of SEC football, with his favorite teams being Alabama (first and foremost), Tennessee, Mississippi State, and LSU. Eddie did live to see Alabama win the 2023 SEC Championship and was so hopeful Alabama would capture the national title on January 8, 2024. So, Roll Tide!!

Eddie is survived by his loving wife, Melinda Moyle Hicks; sister, Janice Ferguson Reese (Laverne); sister-in-law, Dorothy “Dot” Jane Cothran Ferguson; children (of the four-legged variety) Molly, Abbie, Cheyenne, and Nevada; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; several close cousins; and a host of life-long friends. Along with his parents, he is predeceased by his brother, Marion Gene Ferguson; beloved wife, Harriet Higgs Ferguson; and fur babies Annie, Jack, and Dakota.

No flowers please. Contributions, if anyone so desires, may be made to Howlmore Animal Sanctuary or Shandonwood Animal Clinic, both in Columbia, South Carolina, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, or a charity of one’s choosing.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel is assisting the family.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.