Elliot Ferebee

Elliot Ferebee was the second son of Rudolph and (Phoebe) Anna Ferebee born in Switzerland, SC.  He often reminisced about his early years in SC with his brother Alphonso (now deceased) on there land that had a chicken house, sugar cane grinder, horse barn, and smoke house which he made a pencil sketch of; and would talk about grandma Rose who took care of them.

He moved to NYC as a very young boy, and attended NYC public schools where he graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, NY. While at "Clinton" he met James Baldwin who was also a student and went on to become a famed writer and activist.  Elliot also attended Fordham University for one semester.  Elliot would inform anyone who asked him bout his youth that he played ping pong with Althea Gibson because they lived in the same community and enjoyed playing sports.   He was a talented athlete excelling in baseball, stickball, basketball, and football.  In later years he became an avid  tennis player, as well as bowler.  Elliot is greatly missed by the Lemuel Hayes Church Bowling  League in Jamaica, NY.

In 1942 he married; then enlisted in the United States Army (the 369th infantry) in 1943, during World War II; going on to live a long full life.  Elliot was blessed with having had two wives (Willie Mae in 1942; then Elizabeth, Virgie, a companion in latter years).  He had four daughters, five grands, and ten great grands.  On 7 August 2019, Elliot entered into eternal rest at the Novant Medical Center in Huntersville, NC.

He made great friends where ever he went (in NYC, in Westbury, L.I., Jamaica, Queens, in Columbia, MD, in Silver Spring, MD where he resided at the Bedford Court Senior Community, and at the Laurels in Highland Creek, Charlotte, NC.  Elliot's Church Families will deeply feel his loss:  Westbury  Community Church (NY), Lemuel Hayes Church  (NY), and Hopkins United Methodist Church (MD).

He was an avid sports fan, loved food and liked cooking, enjoyed gardening (both flowers/vegetables - especially tomatoes), building things, taking pictures, dabbled in visual arts, and collected baseball caps.  Elliot could almost always be seen with a camera/wearing one of his baseball caps.

Elliot was the devoted father of Vallie Ferebee Bray, Denise Ferebee Foland (deceased), Janice Ferebee, and Annette Ferebee (deceased).  He was a beloved grandfather to Kirsten Nicole Bray, Stacy Felice Bray-Stoutingberg, Carey Charles Dunn, Kyna Nicole Dunn, and Jordan Nicole Ferebee.  Elliot was an aadoring great grandfather to Madison Bray, Mason Bray; Alexis, Akira,  and Olivia Dunn; Trenise, Tramaine, Traquez, Triston, and Trinity Dunn.

He will be missed dearly by his sister-in-law, Oradel Ferebee, treasured son-in-law W. Donald (Tony) Bray; grandson-in-law, Lymont Stoutingberg.  Elliot is predeceased by his brother, Alphonso, his first wife, Willie Mae, his second wife Elizabeth, companion, Virgie; his daughters Denise, and Annette.

Elliot leaves to Cherish his memory, not only his immediate and extended family; also a host of devoted friends, and his godson, Billy McKinney.

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Hopkins Endowment Fund/Treasurer, in Honor of Elliot Ferebee (cash or check accepted at the church using the church envelopes in the pew, also by mail in); or the Novant Hospice and Palliative Care Fund, Charlotte, NC (also in Honor of Elliot Ferebee).  Please contact Vallie or Janice for more details.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elliot Ferebee, please visit our floral store.