Mary Wright Ferguson of Chattanooga, 100, died peacefully Monday night, October 17, 2016.
She was born November 28, 1915 in Chattanooga and great up on Union Avenue, now a part of the McCallie campus (where students enjoyed it as a haven for bridge and occasional smoking). She was a graduate of Bright School (’26), Girls Preparatory School (’31), attended Hollins College and graduated with a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia.
She was the daughter of the late Margaret Reid Peale of Crossroads, Virginia and Robert Toombs Wright of Chattanooga.
She was predeceased in death by her husband, Norton Thayer Montague, Jr. of Chattanooga, and much later by her husband, Robert Thrift Ferguson of Charlotte, N.C. She was also predeceased by her brother, John Peale Wright of Lookout Mountain, grandson Dr. Charles Thayer Montague, MD, and grandson Joseph Awerkamp.
She is survived by twin sons Dr. Norton Thayer (Cynthia) Montague, III, MD of Shoal Creek, Alabama and Dr. Robert Toombs Wright (Betsy) Montague, MD of Elder Mountain and daughter Mary Caroline (Robert) Awerkamp of Maple Hill, Kansas’
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Junior League of Chattanooga, National Society of Colonial Dames of America, Chickamauga Chapter, The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Lookout Mountain Garden Club.
She was active in the Red Cross Canteen during World War II, very active as a volunteer in Changed Lives, a volunteer at the Memorial Hospital Cancer Center and a volunteer at the First Presbyterian Church and often a participant in their foreign mission trips.
She was also survived by 12 grandchildren: Margaret Montague (John Pollock), Robert (Kiran) Montague, Jr., Mary Frances (Jason) Stone, Thayer (Carrie) Montague, Georgia (Hans) Baldau, Caroline Awerkamp, Virginia Madrid, Robert (Inger) Awerkamp, Louise Awerkamp, Marilyn (Aaron) Darakjy, Francis (Shannon) Awerkamp, and Mary Awerkamp, 48 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church Foreign Missions -554McCallie Ave, Chattanooga 37402, Fellowship of Christian Athletes P.O.Box 338, Hixson, TN 37343 or the charity of your choice.
Very recently, while in declining health she asked for pen and paper and wrote “We will now help each other to serve God.” This statement is fine example of her belief and how she lived her life.