Final curtain call for Shona Ferguson

The late Shona Ferguson was buried on August 4 in a private service attended by family and close friends. The mood was sombre but lifted slightly as family members and friends shared fond memories and inside jokes they had with the late actor.

Shona’s older brother Dominique Ferguson revealed that he was a chubby and bubbly toddler. He was so chubby that he was nicknamed ‘Schumpa’, which means fat. Dominique said although Shona was incorrigible when he was younger, he straightened up when he met his wife, Connie. “It hurts that he is not here. We grew up in a close family and above all else we were taught to love the Lord. Shona has always been right here,” he said pointing to his heart. He said he had only scolded his younger brother once and he felt so bad about it that he never did it again. “He best believe that when we meet again, he’s got some explaining to do. He can’t leave before the big bro,” he shared as he choked up.

As speaker after speaker shared tales and quips about the 47-year-old, two things rang loud and clear. Shona was not afraid to love out loud and he loved God.

His six-year-old grandson, Ronewa Malema shared how his grandpa used to call him Khai, or king. “Now that he is in heaven, I will never hear him call me King Khai ever. But let his soul rest in peace and we all love him.”

Shona had one daughter with Connie, Alicia Angel Ferguson. She acknowledged how much she looked like her father and how they have similar characteristics. Alicia remembered how she used to be reserved and how her father opened up her shell and let her branch out. “He had no doubt that I would succeed in whatever I did. He promised to always be by my side. I’m going to make him a promise that no matter what comes, I will always carry on his legacy and I will make him proud.”

Lesedi Matsunyane-Ferguson, Connie’s daughter from her previous marriage met Shona when she was eight years old. She said, “That man met my mom and they have been inseparable since. He became my dad. You could not take away his ability to love loudly and his fearlessness in doing that. It’s almost like the louder he loved, the stronger he became. He was our fighter on earth and he’s our fighter in heaven.” She affectionately called Shona ‘Fa’ and revered that “You can never own a person, you can only experience them and we got to experience him for 20 years”.

Connie and Shona were married for 20 years. In 2010, they founded Ferguson Films which became a production powerhouse with shows such as Rockville, The Queen and Kings of Joburg. In a pre-recorded message, Connie said she never thought she would find herself in this position – without her husband. “Sho, I thought you and I were going to grow old together. God brought you into my life 20 years ago and I anticipated another 20. I can’t imagine my life without you, Sho. I nursed you for 28 days; I have never known anyone as strong as you, how you fought … I am so proud of you.” She said her husband did not do things in half measures, he loved hard and he loved the Lord hard. “I may have only had 20 years with you, Shona, but our 20 years, most people never get to experience a smidgen of that. How lucky am I? You loved me in a way that I didn’t know was possible to love. I don’t know what tomorrow looks like for me but I am happy to have you as an angel.”

The actor and executive producer was diagnosed with Covid-19 on June 26, and started treatment at home. His symptoms worsened and he was admitted to Netcare Pinehaven Hospital on July 3 where he struggled with low oxygen levels. After a week, he was moved to high care. He seemed to get better and was discharged on July 10. However, he took a turn for the worse and returned to Pinehaven the next day, where his condition deteriorated. On July 16 he was airlifted to Milpark Hospital where he spent two weeks. He died on July 30.