Obituary of Juanita Louise Ferguson

Juanita Louise (Smith) Ferguson, 87, originally of Waynesville, passed on into Heaven Wednesday evening, March 4, in Bryson City, after several years of declining health. The daughter of Troy S. Smith, Sr. and wife Flora, she was one of 12 children, all but one of whom have preceded her in death. The body was broken, but the Spirit never dies, and she now walks with Jesus, even as we walk with Him. In re-uniting with her family in the afterlife, she leaves family here on Earth, including husband Samuel Hubert Ferguson, originally of Whittier, sister Betty Jo Kilby of Waynesville, son Tim Ferguson of Sylva, daughter Fonda and son-in-law Chuck Green of Holland, Mich., three grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. Born in Waynesville in 1927, she lived with her family on Dellwood Road until about 12 years old, when they then moved into town. She met husband Hubert in 1948, married in Waynesville in 1951, and moved to Augusta, Georgia, where Hubert had taken a job with DuPont at their nuclear facility nearby. After 50 years in that area, they were able to return to our precious mountains in 2001, and have lived in Bryson City since then. Juanita left a legacy of delight, gentleness, warmth, love, a beauty that she never acknowledged, courage and strength that very few knew, and a good eye for art and color, all of which she integrated in being an exceptional mother and wife until the day she died. ...And her roast beef, potato salad, and banana pudding were outstanding... The funeral will be on Monday, March 9, at Cornerstone Wesleyan Church in Bryson City. (Take Exit 67 off Smoky Mtn. Expressway, downhill into town, bear right at 2nd light passing Walgreen's, and continue about a mile to church on left.) Visitation is at 1 p.m., followed by the service at 2:00. www.crispfuneralhome.org