John A. Ferguson, Jr.

John A Ferguson, Jr., 82, President and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System for more than 40 years, passed away Sunday, January 23, following an extended illness. John attended Georgia Tech on a football and baseball scholarship and earned a master’s degree in engineering. In 1964, John came to the then Hall County Hospital as the first hospital engineer in the state. Within four years of joining the organization, at the age of 28 he became the youngest hospital administrator in Georgia. During his more than 40 years of leadership, John guided Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) and Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) as it transitioned from a small community hospital to a large regional health system providing care to all of northeast Georgia.

As CEO, John was successful, not only in helping the organization grow through new technologies and navigating safely as new payment methods evolved, but also in shaping the health system’s culture through his genuine respect for the physicians, board members, employees and volunteers who helped the organization care for their patients. He was a highly sought-after and respected leader because of his vision, intellect, humor, and ability to spot and grow the talent of those around him. An avid hunter, fisherman and cattleman, he was a beloved and integral part of the community.

His professional achievements are many: John was instrumental in uniting health care providers across the state for collective purchasing to cut costs in the way care was provided across Georgia. He served as chairman of the Voluntary Hospitals of America/Georgia, a hospital management services company and as President of the Georgia Hospital Association. In addition, he served in leadership positions with the Gainesville-Hall County Chamber of Commerce and healthcare trade organizations across the state. In 1986, he led NGMC through corporate reorganization, which enabled the organization to expand health care services across county lines and improve health care for residents throughout northeast Georgia.

John served on the Commission on Access to Healthcare of the Georgia General Assembly to develop plans for improved access to health insurance for all Georgians. John helped lead the fight to overturn a state decision which banned NGHS from beginning open heart surgery. Helping to bring open heart surgery to the community was only one of many important contributions of his considerable legacy. John also helped develop a primary care network which brought physicians to counties across the northeast Georgia service region (the predecessor to Northeast Georgia Physician’s Group), brought neonatal intensive care service to northeast Georgia, opened Laurelwood to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment, expanded cancer services including radiation therapy, began a comprehensive physical rehabilitation institute, he initiated planning for a new patient tower on the Gainesville campus as well as plans for what is now the Braselton Medical Center.

John earned an additional master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and was a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a Rotarian and was profiled in many healthcare industry publications including Vision and Healthcare Management Review. John served on many community and civic boards including United Way of Hall County, the board of Lakeview Academy and was in the second class of Leadership Georgia. He has been honored by many local civic organizations including the Hall County Chapter of the American Heart Association, Junior Achievement, and the naming of the NGHS Board Room at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. He was an active member of Gainesville First Methodist Church where he served in various leadership positions.

As committed to his work as he was, he was more deeply invested in his family, friends and the people God put in his path. While CEO at NGHS, he made sure he made it home to see his youngest enjoy his first snow day. He planned weekend getaways with hospital leadership to strengthen their bonds to one another and regularly made rounds to every area of the growing organization to see what employees needed to care for their patients and to stay connected to the people who cleaned the hallways, laundered the linen, provided bedside care.

John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and trusted friend. John was preceded in death by his father, John A. Ferguson, Sr. (Lois) and mother, Blanche M. Ferguson and his beloved dog,Issie.

Survivors include his wife Lydia Waddell Ferguson, Gainesville; Daughters: Debbie Ferguson Chambers (Phillip), Celina, TX; S. Wendy Ferguson, Nashville, TN; Lynn Ferguson Dickey (Raymond), Gainesville; Son: J. Angus Ferguson (Allison), Matthews, NC; Grandchildren: Chase Chambers (Raquel), Brett Chambers, Dallas, TX; Caroline Dickey (Chase Garrett), Raleigh, NC; Camryn Dickey, Savannah, GA, Jacob A. Dickey, Gainesville, Ellie H. Ferguson, Rowyn M. Ferguson, Caroline S. Ferguson, Matthews, NC; Great Granddaughter, Mary Lou Chambers, Dallas, TX. Brothers: Ben Ferguson (Lynne), Atlanta; Leigh Ferguson (Linda), Chattanooga, TN Family friends, Judy M. Darby (Bill), Gainesville; Sally Swan, Nashville, TN; Jane Taylor, Gainesville.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, January 28 at 3:00 PM at Gainesville First United Methodist Church. The NGHS Foundation and Auxiliary will host a reception in John”s honor at the Chattahoochee Country Club immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the following: Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, 2150 Limestone Pkwy #222, Gainesville, 30501; John Ferguson Scholarship Fund, NGHS Foundation, 2150 Limestone Pkwy #115; Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd, Gainesville, 30506; Alzheimer’s Assn, 41 Perimeter Center E #550, Atlanta, GA 30346

Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Georgia is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com

 To live stream the service at http://www.GFUMC.com/memorialservices