James Ferguson II, a Charlotte civil rights lawyer whose landmark cases desegregated schools nationwide died July 21, 2025 at 82. Ferguson, an Asheville native, was also a co-founder of North Carolina’s first interracial law firm. By Julia Coin and Maia Nehme

C HARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The Charlotte community was this week mourning the loss of James E. “Fergie” Ferguson II -- a civil rights icon who died at 82.

ASHEVILLE - Trailblazing civil rights attorney and Asheville native James "Fergie" Ferguson died the morning of July 21, his son Jay Ferguson told the Citizen Times. He was 82.