Edward Vernon Ferrell Jr. died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012. Mr. Ferrell was born Sept. 26, 1930, to Edward Vernon Ferrell and Rosena Jordan Ferrell in Knoxville, Tenn. His family moved back to Winston-Salem when he was an infant and he was a proud resident for the rest of his life.

Vernon graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School and UNC Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 through 1955 as a supervisor in the Personnel Testing Services.

Mr. Ferrell joined his father’s real estate development firm in 1960 and after his father’s death he continued the expansion of the Ferrell Companies, which celebrated one hundred years in 2011. He was actively involved in the real estate industry throughout the state.  Among many associations, he served as director, vice president, and president of the Winston-Salem Board of Realtors, president of the Winston-Salem Multiple Listing Service, director and regional vice president of the North Carolina Association of Realtors, director of the Greater Downtown Association, and member of the North Carolina Stadium Authority. He also received the Realtor of the Year award and was inducted in the Thomas Lambe Realtors Hall of Fame.

Mr. Ferrell was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church where he served on the Board of Stewards from 1962 through 1964 and 1966 through 1968.

Mr. Ferrell was involved in numerous civic activities including the Amos Cottage as a director and president, First Union National Bank as director, Urban Design Committee as a director, Mayor’s Citizen’s advisory committee, Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, Winston-Salem Housing Foundation, and Wake Forest University’s Estate Planning advisory committee. Mr. Ferrell was a member of the Hawthorne Hill Society of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Mr. Ferrell co-founded Save the Animals Inc. He was also the co-founder of Edward Ferrell Ltd., a manufacturer of high-end upholstered furniture.

Mr. Ferrell was a member of the Old Town Club in Winston-Salem and the Dunes Club and Grand Dunes in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Mr. Ferrell was predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Mrs. William Reynolds Lybrook (Jean) and Mrs. Alford Charles Sinclair (Tibby). He is survived by his loving and devoted family: his daughter, Sarah Ferrell Sloan and husband Lewis Swindell Sloan; and his two grandsons, Lewis Swindell Sloan Jr. and Edward Ferrell Sloan; and a son, Edward Vernon Ferrell III and wife Sandra. He is also survived by his sister, Rosena F. Glenn Dillard and husband Douglas Dillard; and many devoted nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. tonight at Mr. Ferrell’s home, 4500 Chinaberry Lane. There will be a service to celebrate his life at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Salem Funeral Home, 120 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, with Dr. Mark King officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Save the Animals Inc., 2780 W. Mountain St., Kernersville, NC 27284; Wake Forest University Health Sciences designate Jeff Williamson Program Activities for the Ferrell Geriatrics Scholars Fund, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be made through www.salemfh.com.