Anthony Ferguson mourned

Anthony Ferguson, the son of Cecil and Laura Vaughn Ferguson, succumbed  on February 22 from double pneumonia.  He was 51 years old.
The  second son of pioneer African American art curator Cecil Ferguson,  Anthony was remembered as a big hearted, kind and loving husband,  brother and father.
A strapping, 6 ft. 4 inches and 220 pounds,  family and friends say that Anthony was always the life of the party and  thrived on attention.
He was one of those people who was very  strong willed and very opinionated, but he was kind and he would give  you the shirt off his back, recalls his stepmother, Miriam Ferguson.   Hed go out of his way to do things for you. Anthony had a good sense  of humor and loved to make people laugh. He was a good father.  He made  some poor choices in his life, but he was able to turn his life around.  He counseled others who struggled with addictive behavior and helped  them through the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 step program.
A 1974  graduate of Washington High School, Anthony enjoyed playing basketball  and spending time with friends. A postal worker for many years, Anthony  eventually became an inspector for Home Depot.
Cecil Ferguson said of  his son, Anthony had a wonderful zest for life–he loved and honored  God.
Kinte Ferguson, 31, Anthonys younger brother and also an art  curator, recalls his brothers generosity of spirit and that he was  skillful with his hands. If you ever needed anything, Anthony would  stop whatever he was doing and help you. One time, I was installing some  art in a clients home and a special mount needed to be made that I did  not have the skills at the time to make.  I called Anthony in a panic  because I was just getting started in the business.  My brother, who was  at work, dropped everything and drove all the way across town to help  me. He saved the day, Kinte recalls.
Roslyn Ferguson, Anthonys  wife, said, Ill miss the way Anthony made me laugh. He joked with  everybody.  When we held the memorial for Anthony at the Watts Labor  Community Action Committee on February 28, nearly 300 people attended.   Anthony helped save a lot of people from crack cocaine.  People would  call Anthony on the phone and say, My sons in trouble, can you help  me? and Anthony would come to their aid and provide assistance and  counseling.
Pausing, Roslyn added that she would always cherish the  fond memories of her husband.  We spent a lifetime in the five years  that we knew each other, she reflected.  I am thankful that I was able  to share his best years with him.
Darrell Ferguson, 53, Anthonys  older brother, recalls,  Anthony never took a step backwards, whether  it was in business or in a social setting. He was always confident about  himself.  Ill miss his laugh and his big smile.
Left to cherish  Anthonys memory are his wife Rosalyn, his eight children, Lorraine,  Lorene Houde, Patience, Amonie, Antone, Anontia, Jasmine and Sterling;  his father Cecil and stepmother Miriam, his brothers, Darrell, John, and  Kinte; his sisters, Regina Reed, Melanie Montgomery and nieces Evette,  Ebony, and Nia; his nephews, Darrell II, Gaius, Thomas, Cecil, John III,  Alexander, Charles III, Justin and Joel;  his aunts, Jewel Tillman,  Joyce Bowie, an uncle, David Ferguson; six grandchildren and a host of  cousins, relatives and