Noted Attorney and Asheville Native James E. Ferguson, II Passes
His enduring legacy is reflected in the generations of advocates he inspired.
“We announce the transitioning of our beloved James E. Ferguson II, on July 21, 2025. It is with deep gratitude that we shared in the unique and fulfilling life that he lived, and deep sadness that he is no longer with us. We look forward to joining the community in celebrating him, and will share details regarding the arrangements once they are finalized.”
~ The Family
About James E. Ferguson, II
Born in 1942 in Asheville, North Carolina, James E. “Bo Bo” Ferguson, II emerged from modest beginnings as one of eight children in a working-class family. His parents earned their living selling coal and kindling wood and doing domestic work for wealthier white families. Despite the challenges of segregation and poverty, he was inspired by Black mentors and educators to pursue a life in law and justice.
A graduate of Stephens-Lee High School (Class of 1960), Ferguson began his journey as a student activist during the Jim Crow era. He co-founded the Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality (ASCORE), which played a critical role in desegregating public spaces in Asheville—including lunch counters, libraries, and parks. ASCORE is believed to have been the only student-led civil rights group of its kind at the time. As its first president, Ferguson attended the founding meeting of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960.
After graduating from North Carolina College for Negroes (now North Carolina Central University) in 1964, where he served as Student Body President, Ferguson earned his law degree from Columbia University Law School in 1967. He soon settled in Charlotte, NC, and co-founded the state’s first integrated law firm.
Just three years into his legal career, Ferguson led the defense of the Wilmington Ten, a high-profile civil rights case that drew national and international attention. Amnesty International named the defendants the first political prisoners of conscience in the United States. More than four decades later, his relentless advocacy led to Pardons of Innocence for all ten.
In the 1980s, Ferguson extended his influence internationally. Beginning in 1986, he helped establish and teach in a Trial Advocacy Program for Black Lawyers in apartheid-era South Africa—training a new generation of lawyers committed to justice during one of the country’s most turbulent periods. He continued this work well beyond the election of President Nelson Mandela.
Ferguson’s fight for justice also included the case of Darryl Hunt, a Black man wrongfully convicted of rape and murder. Ferguson’s work was instrumental in Hunt’s exoneration and is featured in the HBO documentary, The Trials of Darryl. He also secured life-saving commutations for four individuals previously sentenced to death, under the North Carolina Racial Justice Act—the only law of its kind in the United States.
In 2018, Ferguson led a prominent police misconduct lawsuit against the City of Asheville, reinforcing his commitment to justice in both his hometown and adopted city of Charlotte. His work inspired a deeper focus on restorative justice, promoting healing in communities fractured by systemic inequality and police violence.
Ferguson received numerous honors during his career. He was consistently recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, named one of the Top Ten Litigators in the Country by The National Law Journal, and featured in the Charlotte Observer as “The Lawyer Lawyers Come to See.” He was also a Super Lawyer and a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an elite group of the top 100 plaintiff lawyers in the nation.
On Saturday, January 13, 2024, Ferguson was the keynote speaker for the MLK Association’s Prayer Breakfast. Read more about the 2024 celebration, “Still Marching Forward: Fighting for Justice Never Ends.”
James E. Ferguson, II shared nearly 56 years of marriage with Barbara Turman Ferguson, a fellow Asheville native and former ASCORE President. Together, they built a life rooted in social justice, cultural heritage, and love for their family: three children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Barbara passed in 2022.
Attorney Ferguson’s enduring legacy is reflected in the generations of advocates he inspired, the communities he healed, and the countless lives he transformed through his unwavering commitment to justice.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025 beginning at 12 noon at the Park Church, 6029 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte, NC. A.E. Grier & Sons Funeral & Cremation Service LLC in Charlotte is providing the service.
