of Broken Arrow, OK

June 1, 1932 - April 30, 2010

Martha Jean (Briggs) Ferguson passed from this earthly world into the presence of her Lord Jesus Christ early Friday morning, April 30, 2010 at the age of 77 years and 11 months.

Martha was born on June 1, 1932 in Trenton, Texas to Berl and Laura Edith (Pitman) Briggs. She graduated from Leonard High School in 1950. She married Charles A. Timothy Ferguson on September 2, 1950 in Leonard, Texas. Charles was serving in the Air Force at the time of their marriage. Due to Charles' occupation with the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller, he and Martha lived in a variety of locations. Shreveport, Louisiana and Amarillo, Texas were the two primary locations during Charles' career. Upon Charles' retirement, he and Martha moved to North Little Rock and then to Jonesboro, Arkansas where they were living when Charles went home to be with the Lord in February 1993. In the late 90's Martha moved to Carthage, Texas to be close to her grandson, Brett Golightly, who was attending school in Carthage. After a short while, she then moved to Brenham, Texas to be close to her daughter and son-in-law, Robin, and her husband Dr. Randy Crook. In 2000, she moved to Shreveport to be closer to her daughter Terri and her husband Donnie Garcie. In the spring of 2004 she moved back to Jonesboro, Arkansas to be near Charles' family, with whom she had a very deep and loving relationship. In November 2008, after her health began to decline, she moved to an assisted living facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma to be near her daughter, Robin and her husband Randy. On April 18th, 2009, Martha moved into Robin and Randy's home in Broken Arrow, where she joyfully lived out the remainder of her days.

Martha was primarily a homemaker and mom, but she completed beauty school while raising four rambunctious children and later used those skills to provide free haircuts at a Jonesboro mission. She also did clerical and factory work to help meet the needs of her family, and she also enjoyed working at a large retail store in Jonesboro after the four kids were grown. She greatly enjoyed her independence, as well as her crafts and painting, but these were overshadowed by the great love she had for her family members.

During this last year, Martha enjoyed morning coffee time with Robin, watching "Deal or No Deal" during the evening meal with Robin and Randy, and she loved and worried about Abby, Randy and Robin's little Jack Russell Terrier. Martha always loved the visits by her daughter and son-in-law, Terri and Donnie. Martha had a great sense of humor that was most observable when in the presence of her son-in-laws, Donnie Garcie and Randy Crook.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her two sons, Mike and Donnie Ferguson, her two brothers, Phillip Briggs and Douglas Briggs.

She is survived by her two daughters, Terri Garcie and her husband Donnie of Keatchie, LA, and Robin Crook and her husband Randy of Broken Arrow, OK. She is also survived by daughter-in-law Connie (Ferguson) Ybarra of Canyon, TX, six grandchildren, Elizabeth Stratton, Brett Golightly, Tiffany Ferguson, Shane Ferguson, Megan Mentzle, and Erica Moseby, several great grandchildren and sister-in-law, Maxine Briggs of Irving, TX. She is also survived by her husband's two sisters, Norma Crawford and her husband LaVon ("Uppy"), of Jonesboro, AR, Claudia Lamberson and her husband Garry, of Bay, AR, and her husband's brother, Joe Ferguson and his wife, Kathy, of Kennett, MO, and sister-in-law Betty Lou Ferguson, of Bay, AR. Martha is also survived by the most precious of friends, who were like family to her, Johnny & Shirley Berry and their daughter and son-in-law, Jason and Lorrie Beason, all of Jonesboro.


Visitation will be held at Roller Farmers Union Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 4, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Following the visitation, a "Celebration of Life" service will be held at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery at 11:00 AM. Martha's son-in-law, Dr. Randy Crook, will officiate the service.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home
1900 West Washington Ave.
Jonesboro, AR  72401
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com