Judge Alex E. Ferguson, 73, Thomson Highway, entered into rest on Friday, March 3, 2006 at Wills Memorial Hospital, Washington, Ga.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 6 at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Rev. David Jenkins and Dr. Al Wright officiating. Internment followed in the church cemetery.

A lifelong resident of Lincoln County, he was the son of the late Walter L. and Mary Etta Hammond Ferguson. Judge Ferguson served as Probate Judge of Lincoln County from 1972 until his retirement in 1999. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church where he had served as music director, trustee, Sunday School Superintendent and in various other positions. He was also a member of the Woodmen of the World.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jo Bentley Ferguson, and brothers, Jack Ferguson and Hammond Ferguson. Survivors include two sons, Alex E. Ferguson, Jr., and wife Christy, of Thomson, Ga. and Michael Ferguson, and wife Michee, of Lincolnton; a daughter, Judy F. Marchant, and husband Brian, of Thomson; two brothers, Walter L. Ferguson, Jr., of Marietta, Ga. and Hugh Allen Ferguson, of Lincolnton; two sisters, Margaret Edmunds McDowell, and Evelyn F. Smalley, both of Lincolnton; grandchildren, Brad Ferguson, Britney A. Johnson, and husband Sam, Marcianne Aycock, Russell Aycock, Marcus Ferguson, Mollie Ferguson, Darby Bass and Behren Bass.

Pallbearers were Bruce Beggs, Mike Bell, Wayne Bentley, Gary Blevins, Lonnie Edmunds, Jim Hall, Walker T. Norman, Kyle Reese, and Dr. Robert J. Williams.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Mary Stein, 3263 Thomson Hwy., Lincolnton, Ga. 30817.

Beggs Funeral Home, Lincolnton, was in charge of arrangements.