Written by Ben Cox – It’s time to recognize the people that make our lives easier, to shine a spotlight on the men and women of our community that work for us, even if we never know it. We present to you “Civic Spotlight.”
This weeks Spotlight shines in the direction of the courthouse, and a longtime employee of the Brown County Clerk’s office, Sharon Ferguson.
Ferguson started with the county over 30 years ago, holding the office of County Clerk for the last 10 years. She is preparing to begin another four year term in the position this coming January.
“The County Clerk is considered the keeper of the records. Your land deeds, your criminals records, probate and civil records, mental and juvenile records. We file plats in our office, we also file public notices.” Ferguson also takes the minutes for the County Commissioners Court.
A decent portion of her job is dealing with probate, which is essentially the legality of who gets a say in carrying out the final wishes of a deceased loved one. “To carry through with their wishes, is basically what probate is” according to Ferguson.
Ferguson says her job is full of surprises, not all of them pleasant. “Not just anybody can have your birth certificate, they’re not public records. If you’re not mother, father, brother, sister or a grandparent you can’t have it. And people get mad about that.”
Local history buffs have and can continue to make use of the Clerk’s archives stored in the courthouse basement dating back to the late 1800’s. While the antique documents are not currently available online, Ferguson is working on that. “Official public records, the real property records are available online, and the appraisal district loves me for that! They don’t have to come in, they can just look up deeds.” Online records currently date back to the early 1970’s, and the plan is to continue having archives scanned until they are all available digitally.
Married to her husband Phillip for 25 years, Ferguson and her husband have a large blended family that includes 12 grandchildren. “Christmas is fun, and expensive!”
An Odessa native, Ferguson came to the county while she was in the seventh grade. Her father moved them to a 550 acre farm in May that he had purchased before she was born, land she and her brothers and sister live on to this day. “Daddy always said one day we were gonna move but we never believed him. We came every summer and hulled peanuts, and worked our tails off! Then one night he came home and said ‘we’re moving’ and I thought my life was over. But it was the best thing he ever could have down for us.”
Ferguson loves her job, and says that despite what some may think “It’s really a great place to work.” She attributes that to the kindness of the people in the courthouse. “I think it’s because if you are kind to someone, they’ll be kind to you.”
She also credits her employees with her enjoyment of the position. “I have a great staff, they all work well with each other and its a great place to work.”
Thank you Mrs Ferguson, for the tireless work you put in on behalf of the residents of Brown County. It wouldn’t be the same place without you and your efforts.
