AREA OBITUARIES -- CLIFFORD FERGUSON

After a life well lived, Mr. Clifford Ferguson, loving husband, father, and grandfather, of South Fulton, TN, passed away surrounded by family at the ageof 91 at Jackson Madison County General Hospital on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Clifford was born on March 28, 1932 in Obion County, TN to the late Jordan A. and Mina (Bondurant) Ferguson. He married his wife, Sallie (Rogers) Ferguson on June 13, 1959 at Troy Church of Christ. He was a member of the Bishop Street Church of Christ in Union City, TN. Throughout the years, Clifford served as bible class teacher and deacon at both Smith Street Church of Christ and Bishop Street Church of Christ.

Growing up on a farm, when he was old enough to guide a plow, a good amount of his time was spent working the land behind a mule which instilled his lifelong belief that mules were one of God’s unfriendliest and orneriest creatures. To get away from the mules, he started working for the Corps of Engineers finding adventure on the river shoring up riverbanks in a time of booming barge traffic.

While working on the river, he became smitten with a young lady who was accompanying a friend to worship at McConnell Church of Christ. Being ever so resourceful, he later learned her name and address and drove to her home in Troy, TN to introduce himself. Sallie would become the love of his life and his wife of 64 years. Knowing that river life was not the best job for family life, Clifford worked in auto and tractor parts for many years even owning his own store, Temco Tractor PartS, and later working in county government.

After his love for God and family, Clifford had a passionate love of Tennessee Walking Horses and the Tennessee Volunteers. He spent his entire adult life surrounded by walking horses in some capacity whether riding or raising foals. He was often seen donning his Tennessee Volunteers attire, and he had an array of orange ties from which to choose on Sunday. You better bet he was going to wear one of those to church on Sunday the morning after a Kentucky or Alabama win.
In addition to his parents, Clifford is preceded in death by his son, Doug Ferguson, infant daughter Lori Ann Ferguson, brothers, Alvin and John Ferguson, and sisters Juanita Johnson, Edith Faulkner, Aliene Workman, and Jewell Hastings.
He is survived by his wife, Sallie (Rogers) Ferguson of South Fulton, TN, daughter, Stephanie (Ted) Simpson of Brentwood, TN, daughter-in-law, Paula Ferguson of Dyersburg, TN, brother Ray Ferguson of Union City, TN, grandchildren, Amber (Stephan) Elmore of Brookland, AR, Cassidy (Riley) Jones of Jackson, TN, Kate Simpson of Brentwood, TN, great grandchildren Madison and Emma Elmore of Brookland, AR. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his family he is survived by his beloved horses. He leaves behind no mules.

Funeral services for Mr. Clifford Ferguson will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. at Hornbeak Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Obion County Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be held at Hornbeak Funeral Chapel on Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.