Eureka Forty-Seven Foundation, Inc.

Charles Fergerson, Sr. Scholarship

Who was Charles Fergerson, Sr.? He attended Horace Mann High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Upon graduation from high school, Charles headed to Atlanta, Georgia to attend Morris Brown College on a football scholarship. While attending Morris Brown, he met and married the love of his life, Mary Clara Scott. In 1950, he began a career at Lockhead Martin as a ground man, the only position available to Blacks at that time. Nonetheless, Charles worked his way up to the production line and eventually became the first black supervisor on the production floor. His team was responsible for building the C-141 Star lifter Aircraft. This plane was used for both passenger and cargo transport in many major conflicts including Hanoi and Vietnam. Charles played a major role in the integration of Lockhead Martin Georgia, where he continued his career for 35 years until he retired as supervisor of the C-130 program in 1987. 

Family was very important to Charles. He built strong traditions and instilled family values that extended well beyond his immediate family. Being a man of strong character and integrity, he instilled these qualities in his children, teaching them the value of a strong work ethic, which has served them well in their life achievements.

In Cobb, he served on the boards of Marietta Housing Authority, Cobb County Transit, American Red Cross, Board of Jury Commissioners, and the Cobb County Kennestone Hospital Authority. He was a member of the Cobb County Democratic Executive Committee and a member of the Marietta Citizen Advisory Committee. At the age of 61, he ran for a seat on the Marietta City Council, representing Ward 5. Charles was Worshipful Master of Eden Lodge #46 F&AM and a member of Atlanta Consistory #24, 32nd and 33rd Degree Mason. 

Charles was a faithful member of Zion Baptist Church where he served as Deacon Board Chair, Sunday School Teacher, and Project Manager for the building of the Education and Administration Building. He also served as Church Operations Manager until 1999. His role at Zion was always one of leading by example. He not only dedicated his time, talent and finances to the church but he also was one of the Zion 5, a group of five deacons who put their personal homes up as collateral to help secure the loan to build the New Sanctuary in 1977, which now serves as the Chapel.

The Eureka Forty-Seven Foundation, Inc. mission is to provide assistance to our surrounding community through programs and services such as Scholarships for the underprivileged students who aspire to attend college or who are already attending college.