Posted on Thu, Jan. 18, 2007email this print this William 'Bill' Ferguson, 60: Tried to stop youth violence By ANDREA ROBINSON
[email protected]
Family and friends say goodbye on Friday to William ''Bill'' Ferguson, a noted criminal defense attorney and youth advocate who committed himself to ending youth violence in South Florida.
Ferguson, 60, a founding member of the Regional Community Collaboration on Violence, was struck by a car Jan. 8 while riding his bicycle along Northwest 27th Avenue in Opa-locka. He died two days later.
His death caused shock and grief throughout Miami-Dade's criminal justice system, from the bustling Gerstein Justice Building downtown to the gritty Alternative Program offices in Little Haiti.
Often working pro bono, Ferguson defended inmates and pleaded on behalf of defendants, arguing they just needed a second chance.
''He ran after people, taking care of them when he didn't take care of his own self,'' said his wife, Ella Ferguson.
Edith Georgi, an assistant public defender, called Ferguson the ultimate advocate for those who needed help.
''He was just a soldier in the war on helping people. Even when he could be doing other things he would help people in the jails,'' Georgi said.
''If someone had no place to go, was released [from jail], I could count on him. He'd help them find work,'' she said.
Circuit Judge Roberto Piñeiro said Ferguson's non confrontational style won him many admirers.
''He wasn't in your face. He didn't try to make prosecutors look bad, and he presented his clients in the best possible manner,'' Piñeiro said.
``He cared about what he did and the people he represented.''
Ferguson, a native of Indianapolis, served in the Navy. He received a political-science degree from Indiana State University and a law degree from Texas Southern University in Houston.
Ferguson moved to Miami in 1985. He soon joined the Miami-Dade Corrections Department's pretrial release program. Three years later, he opened a law office in Opa-locka.
One of Ferguson's mentors was Georgia Jones Ayers, longtime community activist and founder of the Alternative Program, a last-chance school for youthful offenders. Ferguson became her aide, confidante and friend, Ayers said.
Last year, Ferguson teamed with Jeff Gorley, former head of the Broward County Human Rights Board and South Florida Human Rights Council, to form the Regional Community Collaboration on Violence.
''He didn't just talk and walk away'' at community meetings, Gorley recalled. ``He'd talk and help you out.''
At Ferguson's urging, the Alternative Program arranged a trip to Sea World for the family of Sherdavia Jenkins, the 9-year-old Liberty City girl gunned down while playing on her front porch last year. He thought they needed a respite, said friend and co-worker Wilie Brown.
He rarely, if ever, asked for anything in return, Brown said.``If he asked for anything it was that you help someone else.''
In addition to his wife, Ferguson is survived by a son, William Jeffrey; daughter Jena Lynn; a grandchild, Deandre Ferguson; sisters Barbara Ferguson, Darlene Head and Khadijah Ferguson; and brothers James Ferguson Jr., Donald Ferguson, Richard Ferguson and Russell Ferguson.
A visitation will be at 3 p.m. today at the Historic Mount Zion Baptist Church, 901 NW Third Ave. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the church.
[email protected]
Family and friends say goodbye on Friday to William ''Bill'' Ferguson, a noted criminal defense attorney and youth advocate who committed himself to ending youth violence in South Florida.
Ferguson, 60, a founding member of the Regional Community Collaboration on Violence, was struck by a car Jan. 8 while riding his bicycle along Northwest 27th Avenue in Opa-locka. He died two days later.
His death caused shock and grief throughout Miami-Dade's criminal justice system, from the bustling Gerstein Justice Building downtown to the gritty Alternative Program offices in Little Haiti.
Often working pro bono, Ferguson defended inmates and pleaded on behalf of defendants, arguing they just needed a second chance.
''He ran after people, taking care of them when he didn't take care of his own self,'' said his wife, Ella Ferguson.
Edith Georgi, an assistant public defender, called Ferguson the ultimate advocate for those who needed help.
''He was just a soldier in the war on helping people. Even when he could be doing other things he would help people in the jails,'' Georgi said.
''If someone had no place to go, was released [from jail], I could count on him. He'd help them find work,'' she said.
Circuit Judge Roberto Piñeiro said Ferguson's non confrontational style won him many admirers.
''He wasn't in your face. He didn't try to make prosecutors look bad, and he presented his clients in the best possible manner,'' Piñeiro said.
``He cared about what he did and the people he represented.''
Ferguson, a native of Indianapolis, served in the Navy. He received a political-science degree from Indiana State University and a law degree from Texas Southern University in Houston.
Ferguson moved to Miami in 1985. He soon joined the Miami-Dade Corrections Department's pretrial release program. Three years later, he opened a law office in Opa-locka.
One of Ferguson's mentors was Georgia Jones Ayers, longtime community activist and founder of the Alternative Program, a last-chance school for youthful offenders. Ferguson became her aide, confidante and friend, Ayers said.
Last year, Ferguson teamed with Jeff Gorley, former head of the Broward County Human Rights Board and South Florida Human Rights Council, to form the Regional Community Collaboration on Violence.
''He didn't just talk and walk away'' at community meetings, Gorley recalled. ``He'd talk and help you out.''
At Ferguson's urging, the Alternative Program arranged a trip to Sea World for the family of Sherdavia Jenkins, the 9-year-old Liberty City girl gunned down while playing on her front porch last year. He thought they needed a respite, said friend and co-worker Wilie Brown.
He rarely, if ever, asked for anything in return, Brown said.``If he asked for anything it was that you help someone else.''
In addition to his wife, Ferguson is survived by a son, William Jeffrey; daughter Jena Lynn; a grandchild, Deandre Ferguson; sisters Barbara Ferguson, Darlene Head and Khadijah Ferguson; and brothers James Ferguson Jr., Donald Ferguson, Richard Ferguson and Russell Ferguson.
A visitation will be at 3 p.m. today at the Historic Mount Zion Baptist Church, 901 NW Third Ave. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the church.
Posted on Thu, Jan. 18, 2007email this print this William 'Bill' Ferguson, 60: Tried to stop youth violence By ANDREA ROBINSON
[email protected]
Family and friends say goodbye on Friday to William ''Bill'' Ferguson, a noted criminal defense attorney and youth advocate who committed himself to ending youth violence in South Florida.
Ferguson, 60, a founding member of the Regional Community Collaboration on Violence, was struck by a car Jan. 8 while riding his bicycle along Northwest 27th Avenue in Opa-locka. He died two days later.
His death caused shock and grief throughout Miami-Dade's criminal justice system, from the bustling Gerstein Justice Building downtown to the gritty Alternative Program offices in Little Haiti.
Often working pro bono, Ferguson defended inmates and pleaded on behalf of defendants, arguing they just needed a second chance.
''He ran after people, taking care of them when he didn't take care of his own self,'' said his wife, Ella Ferguson.
Edith Georgi, an assistant public defender, called Ferguson the ultimate advocate for those who needed help.
''He was just a soldier in the war on helping people. Even when he could be doing other things he would help people in the jails,'' Georgi said.
''If someone had no place to go, was released [from jail], I could count on him. He'd help them find work,'' she said.
Circuit Judge Roberto Piñeiro said Ferguson's non confrontational style won him many admirers.
''He wasn't in your face. He didn't try to make prosecutors look bad, and he presented his clients in the best possible manner,'' Piñeiro said.
``He cared about what he did and the people he represented.''
Ferguson, a native of Indianapolis, served in the Navy. He received a political-science degree from Indiana State University and a law degree from Texas Southern University in Houston.
Ferguson moved to Miami in 1985. He soon joined the Miami-Dade Corrections Department's pretrial release program. Three years later, he opened a law office in Opa-locka.
One of Ferguson's mentors was Georgia Jones Ayers, longtime community activist and founder of the Alternative Program, a last-chance school for youthful offenders. Ferguson became her aide, confidante and friend, Ayers said.
Last year, Ferguson teamed with Jeff Gorley, former head of the Broward County Human Rights Board and South Florida Human Rights Council, to form the Regional Community Collaboration on Violence.
''He didn't just talk and walk away'' at community meetings, Gorley recalled. ``He'd talk and help you out.''
At Ferguson's urging, the Alternative Program arranged a trip to Sea World for the family of Sherdavia Jenkins, the 9-year-old Liberty City girl gunned down while playing on her front porch last year. He thought they needed a respite, said friend and co-worker Wilie Brown.
He rarely, if ever, asked for anything in return, Brown said.``If he asked for anything it was that you help someone else.''
In addition to his wife, Ferguson is survived by a son, William Jeffrey; daughter Jena Lynn; a grandchild, Deandre Ferguson; sisters Barbara Ferguson, Darlene Head and Khadijah Ferguson; and brothers James Ferguson Jr., Donald Ferguson, Richard Ferguson and Russell Ferguson.
A visitation will be at 3 p.m. today at the Historic Mount Zion Baptist Church, 901 NW Third Ave. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the church.
[email protected]
Family and friends say goodbye on Friday to William ''Bill'' Ferguson, a noted criminal defense attorney and youth advocate who committed himself to ending youth violence in South Florida.
Ferguson, 60, a founding member of the Regional Community Collaboration on Violence, was struck by a car Jan. 8 while riding his bicycle along Northwest 27th Avenue in Opa-locka. He died two days later.
His death caused shock and grief throughout Miami-Dade's criminal justice system, from the bustling Gerstein Justice Building downtown to the gritty Alternative Program offices in Little Haiti.
Often working pro bono, Ferguson defended inmates and pleaded on behalf of defendants, arguing they just needed a second chance.
''He ran after people, taking care of them when he didn't take care of his own self,'' said his wife, Ella Ferguson.
Edith Georgi, an assistant public defender, called Ferguson the ultimate advocate for those who needed help.
''He was just a soldier in the war on helping people. Even when he could be doing other things he would help people in the jails,'' Georgi said.
''If someone had no place to go, was released [from jail], I could count on him. He'd help them find work,'' she said.
Circuit Judge Roberto Piñeiro said Ferguson's non confrontational style won him many admirers.
''He wasn't in your face. He didn't try to make prosecutors look bad, and he presented his clients in the best possible manner,'' Piñeiro said.
``He cared about what he did and the people he represented.''
Ferguson, a native of Indianapolis, served in the Navy. He received a political-science degree from Indiana State University and a law degree from Texas Southern University in Houston.
Ferguson moved to Miami in 1985. He soon joined the Miami-Dade Corrections Department's pretrial release program. Three years later, he opened a law office in Opa-locka.
One of Ferguson's mentors was Georgia Jones Ayers, longtime community activist and founder of the Alternative Program, a last-chance school for youthful offenders. Ferguson became her aide, confidante and friend, Ayers said.
Last year, Ferguson teamed with Jeff Gorley, former head of the Broward County Human Rights Board and South Florida Human Rights Council, to form the Regional Community Collaboration on Violence.
''He didn't just talk and walk away'' at community meetings, Gorley recalled. ``He'd talk and help you out.''
At Ferguson's urging, the Alternative Program arranged a trip to Sea World for the family of Sherdavia Jenkins, the 9-year-old Liberty City girl gunned down while playing on her front porch last year. He thought they needed a respite, said friend and co-worker Wilie Brown.
He rarely, if ever, asked for anything in return, Brown said.``If he asked for anything it was that you help someone else.''
In addition to his wife, Ferguson is survived by a son, William Jeffrey; daughter Jena Lynn; a grandchild, Deandre Ferguson; sisters Barbara Ferguson, Darlene Head and Khadijah Ferguson; and brothers James Ferguson Jr., Donald Ferguson, Richard Ferguson and Russell Ferguson.
A visitation will be at 3 p.m. today at the Historic Mount Zion Baptist Church, 901 NW Third Ave. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the church.
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