S. Scott Ferebee, Jr.

November 19, 2016

S. Scott Ferebee, Jr., 95, died November 19, 2016 at Aldersgate Retirement Community. He was born in Detroit, Michigan to Stephen Scott Ferebee, Sr. of Shawboro, NC and Carrie Cheatham Ferebee of Henderson, NC. His family returned to North Carolina when he was a young boy and he spent the remainder of his life there. An avid Wolfpacker, Scott graduated from NC State University in 1948 with a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree.

Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he was a paratrooper in World War II. After the war, he remained in the active reserve and rose to the rank of major general commanding the 108th Division (Tng) with units across North and South Carolina. Some of his military decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Professionally, he and Herschel Walters founded Ferebee, Walters and Associates in 1958 and built it into a successful multi-state architectural practice headquartered in Charlotte, NC now known as the FWA Group. He was very active in the American Institute of Architects, serving as President in 1973. He was also Chancellor of the College of Fellows in 1987 and a delegate to the International Union of Architects.

Within the community, he was a long-time member of Charlotte East Rotary and served as President 1997-1998. He sat on a number of Boards including the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, Opera Carolina and Aldersgate UMRC.

Most important to him were his family and faith. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Cooper (Betty) Ferebee and son, John Cooper Ferebee, his brother, James Harrison Ferebee, Sr. and his sister, Jean Ferebee Bishop. He is survived by his son S. Scott Ferebee, III and wife, Lynn of Grapevine, Texas; daughter, Caroline Ferebee Simmons and husband, Jerry of Lake Wylie, SC; grandchildren, S. Scott Ferebee, IV of Carrollton, TX, James Cooper Ferebee of Las Colinas, TX, Patrick Scott Ferebee of Asheville, NC and Rachel Elizabeth Ferebee of Raleigh, NC; and his brother John Jethro Ferebee, Sr. and his wife, Patsy of Rocky Mount, NC.

Scott and Betty joined Sedgefield United Methodist Church shortly after it was founded and he took an active role in growing the church from its beginnings. He was a member for over 65 years and served in various capacities in the church and the Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference.

Although his accomplishments were many, he was proudest of three things: Wooing and marrying his wife, Betty, an Army nurse he met while recovering from being wounded in action as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Normandy; his role in the creation of the School of Architecture at UNCC; and securing the Charlotte Convention Center as the site of the 2002 National AIA Convention.

His family would also like to mention a few of the numerous honors he received. He was awarded the Watauga Medal from his alma mater NCSU, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and a Doctorate of Fine Arts from UNCC. Scott credited much of his success to his wife Betty and to Herschel Walters and his other partners and associates at the FWA Group.

Although we are proud of his many accomplishments, we remember him most as a loving and caring father, grandfather and father-in-law who put God and his family above all else.

His family would especially like to thank the staff of Aldersgate UMRC for their loving care of Scott and of us during the past ten years.

A service to celebrate the life of S. Scott Ferebee, Jr. will be held at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 in the Chapel at Aldersgate Retirement Community. The family will receive friends immediately after the service. Burial with full military honors will follow the reception in Evergreen Cemetery. The Wesley Fellowship Class will be honorary pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sedgefield United Methodist Church, 2830 Dorchester Place, Charlotte, NC 29209, Aldersgate UMRC, 3800 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215 or the UNC Charlotte Foundation, att. S. Scott Ferebee, Jr. AIA Scholarship, 9201 University City Blvd., Cameron 174, Charlotte, NC 28223

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204. Online condolences at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

 

 

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  • Harry Sherrill

    I started at Ferebee Walters in 1972 and left the firm in 2005. During that time I learned from Scott leadership by example. It is easy to say "always do the right thing" but Scott lived it. He selected his partners based on this creed. I will be forever thankful for all the time we shared on numerous projects and all that he taught me. A true patriot, Scott was very supportive of my time with the National Guard and the weeks I spent each year away from the firm on duty. He is and will always be an inspiration to me for the remainder of my life. I send my sincere condolences to his family and hope that they find comfort in the many fine memories with this great man.
    I am so sorry that I was unable to express my sorrow to his family in person but i was hospitalized.

  • Charles and Janet Cooper

    Uncle Scott was Charles last uncle.He was a true gentleman and we enjoyed several visits with him. We are so proud of all the accomplishments that he made in his business and his life.Our sincere sympathy to the family.