Laura Anne Cobb Ferguson
August 1, 1951 - February 20, 2024
Musician, wife, mother, teacher, grandmother, friend: Any or all of these roles would describe Laura Ferguson. Born in Starkville, Mississippi, on August 1, 1951, to the late W. J. Cobb and Marjorie Raye Cobb, Laura grew up in Webster County, Mississippi, and attended public schools at Eupora, Mississippi. Laura attended Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, majoring in music education, where she met the love of her life, Frank, also a music education major. They were married for 52 years.
Laura began her teaching career at Scott Central School in Forest, Mississippi, teaching elementary music, choir and piano. Moving to Monticello, Arkansas, in 1975 to follow her husband and support his teaching career, she taught piano and worked as a secretary at MonArk Boat Company. Frank and Laura had an opportunity to teach together at the Hermitage School District for three years before she accepted the choir director position with the Warren School District, where she remained for the next 25 years. During her tenure at Warren, she produced many outstanding choirs. Several of her students attended college on voice scholarships, while a number also chose education, inspired by her work in the classroom. For 25 years, Laura also directed the high school Junior Class play, usually a musical. For many of her students, their fondest memories of school came from acting, singing and dancing in her play productions.
Laura was a Past President of the Monticello Music Club and served in leadership positions with the Arkansas Federation of Music Clubs.
Laura was the long-time organist at her beloved First Presbyterian Church in Monticello. She also served as an Elder and was active in the life of her church. In retirement, she enjoyed gardening, reading, keeping house and traveling.
Laura passed from this life on February 20, 2024, at Arkansas Hospice Inpatient Center, in Little Rock, following a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her father, Winfred J (Joe) Cobb and her brother, George Cobb.
She is survived by her husband, Frank Ferguson; two sons, Adam Ferguson and Gary Stuart Ferguson, all of Monticello; a beautiful and loving granddaughter, Swayzee Ferguson, of Colfax, Louisiana; her mother, Marjorie Cobb; and a brother, David Cobb, both of Eupora, Mississippi; and a sister, Virginia Ellen (Ginga) McLaughlin, of Natchez, Mississippi.
Visitation with the family will be Friday, February 23, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 821 North Main Street, in Monticello, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 24. Internment will be in Oakland Cemetery following the service.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, a memorial donation be made to Arkansas Hospice Foundation, First Presbyterian Church of Monticello, or a charity of your choice.
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