Sweet Magnolia Ferguson

Mrs. Sweet Magnolia Ferguson

The youngest of five children, Sweet Magnolia Ferguson was born in Idabel, Oklahoma to George C. and Tena D. Woods on May 21, 1914. One day short of her 102 ^nd year of life; on May 20, 2016, Sweet entered into the peaceful rest of Eternal slumber.

At the age of 13 years, she joined First Baptist Church (then named Pleasant Grove Baptist Church), under the leadership of Pastor M.S. Stinson. She served in many capacities in the church: Sunday school teacher, choir member, and deacon board secretary.

In 1952, she affiliated with the St. Paul Baptist Church in Paris, Texas. While there, she was active in Sunday school, missionary society vice-president, and church secretary. In 1984, she returned to Idabel and reunited with the First Baptist Church family.

Sweet attended elementary and junior high in Boley and Idabel, Oklahoma. In 1931, she graduated from Dunbar High School in Texarkana, Texas.  She enrolled at Langston University in September of that same year. In 1933, she married John Wiley Burr; and continued with her education. Their union lasted for 13 years.

In May, 1935, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.  That autumn, she was assigned to teach first grade at Booker T. Washington in Idabel. She continued her education at Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. Finally in 1949, she received her Master of Education degree. She also completed additional studies at North Texas University in Denton, Texas; East Texas University in Commerce, Texas and attended multiple seminars to improve her teaching style and methodology.

Sweet married Carl Ferguson in 1952. They relocated to Paris, Texas in 1956, where she worked as Supervisor of the Lamar County Negro Schools for six years at which time she was assigned to the position of attendance accountant. She then became a reading teacher at Gibbons High School in Paris. In 1979, she retired; having taught American History at Paris High School for 13 years.

Sweet always became an engaged member of her community. She was involved in professional, social, and civic organizations.  She was a charter member of the Entre' Nous Professional Women's Club. She was also a member of Rebecca Chapter of Oklahoma Eastern Star #54 of Idabel. Later, she transferred her membership to Viola Chapter O.E.S. #57 in Paris, Texas.

On April 9, 1949, Sweet became a charter member of Epsilon Eta Omega chapter when she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

She was a founding member of Les Belles Parisienne Club in Paris. She helped to establish the Y.W.C. A. of Paris and Lamar County. She served as a member on its Board as well as on the Boards for the Red River Valley Girl Scouts Council and the Salvation Army, Paris District.

In 1980, her husband Carl died. Sweet returned to reside in the family's home in Idabel in 1984; where she lived for 26 years.

Sweet is survived by her Great-nieces, Karen Harrison (Maryland) and Gail Woods (Chicago); cousins, Wallace Walker and wife Nita (Idabel), William Walker (Idabel), and Albert Merritt (Idabel); caregiver Lou Eddie Burris (Broken Bow), and special friends, Betty Lou Hall (Oklahoma City); Shirley Davis (Idabel); and Patti Harris (Tennessee).

The home going service will be at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Westside in Idabel. Interment will follow at Woods Cemetery, Idabel.