On Saturday, September 6th I lost my dad, Roy Elzie Ferguson Jr. He was a hardworking man who spent his life as a roofer and eventually ran his own crew. He took pride in an honest day’s work and built his name on being reliable and dedicated.

These past few days I’ve been hearing so many stories about the kind of man he was. He was the uncle who fixed bikes for his nieces and nephews, the one who made sure kids had something to do, and the brother who stepped up when times were hard. He taught people around him the value of responsibility and what it meant to take care of family.

He was a proud son of Roy Sr. and Ernestine and he carried that love for his family his whole life. It brings me peace to know he’s now reunited with his parents, his younger sister Dana, and his baby brother Danny/Dannyboy.

If you lived around town you probably knew when Roy was nearby. You could hear that truck of his before you ever saw it, that loud engine was just part of him. And if you were ever around him you knew his sense of humor. He was always cracking jokes and making people laugh even in the hardest times. That’s something we’ll never forget.

We weren’t always the closest but I never doubted his love. He cared about me, my kids, his nieces and nephews, and my daughter Jazmin who shared a special bond with him. Family was everything to him and I’ll carry that with me forever.

I’m starting this GoFundMe to help with the cost of his burial and to make keepsake necklaces for his grandkids so they can always have a part of their grandpa with them. Any contribution, big or small, will go toward honoring my dad’s memory and giving his grandkids something meaningful to hold onto.

From the bottom of my heart thank you to everyone who has reached out, shared stories, and offered prayers. Your kindness, love and support mean more than I can say. And if you have a memory of my dad, a story, a laugh, or a moment you’ll never forget, please share it here. Hearing how he touched people’s lives brings us comfort and keeps his spirit alive.

— Roy Ferguson III