Lizzie B. Howard Ferguson was born on November 12, 1929, in Homer, Louisiana. She moved with her family to Camden, Ouachita County, Arkansas, while still a child. Ferguson attended Velvatex Beauty College in Little Rock.
One of her first afterschool jobs was at Ferguson's restaurant, where she cooked, waited on tables, and maintained the business's financial records. After marrying Randall Carter Ferguson, she ran her own beauty salon for several years, while continuing to help with Ferguson's Lounge. Ferguson then worked at BEI for three decades, earned her GED, and worked her way up to QA supervisor before the plant closed in 1996.
Ferguson and her husband raised four sons and one daughter.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Lizzie Ferguson and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Lizzie Ferguson's parents, Lester and Annie Howard
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Lizzie Ferguson, 1956
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Randall Sr. and Lizzie Ferguson's sons, Randall Jr. (on horse) and James, in their house on Lincoln Drive; Camden, Arkansas, ca. 1955
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Randall Sr. and Lizzie Ferguson's sons: James, Randall Jr., and Robert; Camden, Arkansas, 1958
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Lizzie Ferguson (6th from left) in beauty pageant, 1960
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Randall Sr. and Lizzie Ferguson's children: James, Robert, Randall Jr., and Jeanette, April 1960
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Randall Sr. and Lizzie Ferguson's children: James, Randall Jr., Robert, John, and Jeanette, ca. 1962
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Three generations of Fergusons: Randall Jr.; Randall Jr.'s son, Trey; Randall Sr.; Lincoln Drive residence, Camden, Arkansas, ca. 1972
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Lizzie and Randall Ferguson Sr. at the wedding of their son, Robert, 1974
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Lizzie and Randall Ferguson Sr.
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Lizzie Ferguson's sister, Bertha (center), with Delores Staton in Milwaukee at Bertha's 80th birthday party
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: The Ferguson family at Randall Ferguson Sr.'s 70th birthday party: James, Randall Sr., Jeanette, Randall Jr., Lizzie, Robert, and John, 1989
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Lizzie Ferguson and her sons: (back row) Robert, Randall Jr.; (front row) James, Lizzie, John, December 1995
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Lizzie and Randall Ferguson Sr., 1995
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Lizzie Ferguson; Camden, Arkansas, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Lizzie Ferguson; Camden, Arkansas, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Lizzie Ferguson; Camden, Arkansas, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Lizzie Ferguson; Camden, Arkansas, 2009
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
