Thomas G. Ferrebee

In Remembrance of An Extraordinary Man…

Thomas Gregory Ferrebee was the second oldest of four children born to Joseph and Alberta Ferrebee on January 24, 1937 in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised in a loving and nourishing home which helped lay the foundation of the man he became.

Thomas wasn’t a quiet man by any means but was an honorable, proud and educated man. If anyone knew Tom, he definitely spoke his mind. At an early age he excelled in sports and various activities while attending Detroit Public Schools and later graduating from Hamtramck High School in 1955. Shortly after his high school graduation he met his lifelong and dedicated wife Irma of 61 years whom he lovingly called “Slim” and from this union three children were born. Although Tom was a father of three, he was like a Dad to many.

He went on to attend Iowa State University on a football scholarship later after graduation he became a part of the ISU Football coaching staff. During his exciting college career at Iowa State Tom was part of the legendary ISU Football Team, affectionally still known today as the “Dirty Thirty”. He wore his ISU legacy with pride and made sure if you were not an ISU fan before, you sure would be one after one of his Iowa stories. He lived and breathed Iowa State University until the day he left us. Tom was truly in every shape of the phrase “A Cyclone to the Bone.”

He valued the importance of God, family and education his entire life but began very early implementing his passion of serving and educating by becoming the first African American teacher at his alma mater Hamtramck High School in 1961. Service and giving back to his community were embedded in his soul.

Thomas spent up his entire life in the City of Detroit and dedicated his life to making the city a safe and better place for his family and the citizens. Tom was a proud member of several organizations such as The Boy Scouts of America, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement and The American Cross. Tom was a lifelong blood donor for over six decades only missing donating weekly until his late 70’s. He was featured in 2014 by local news stations and even on Good Morning Australia for his selfless blood donations over the years. He also sat on the Board of Trustees for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan for many years.

Tom loved spending time with his family but also had numerous passions and hobbies his entire life. To sum it up best, the only thing he hadn’t done or wasn’t willing to do was mountain climbing and scuba diving. However, he loved hunting, fishing, golfing and restoring old Ford Mustangs, to name a few.

He was a family man and believed in the importance of providing for his wife and children. Over the decades he worked various prestigious jobs and was instrumental in change through a challenging time of racial and gender uncertainty and inequality. From his groundbreaking tenure for Hamtramck Schools to Community Relations at Ford Motor Company Headquarters. He later served as the Commander of Recruiting of the Detroit Police Department where he implemented affirmative action. He later went on to serve as Director of Detroit House of Corrections in Plymouth, MI, Wayne County Executive of Human Relations, MMBDC certifier and then starting his own consulting business, TGF Enterprises in the 90’s.

On Tuesday November 24, 2020 Tom was called to begin a new chapter in his journey and is now joined with his mother, father and brothers Reginald and Donald Ferrebee whom all preceded him in death.

He leaves to cherish his memory: Loving wife Irma, his children Gregory Glenn (Angela Gayle), Debra Lynn Franklin (Freddie) and Angela Marie Brantley; grandson Mark Christopher Robinson Jr.; sister Patricia A. Cole. Tom’s memory will also be remembered by, daughter of love Robin Crawford (Derek); grandchildren of love: Frederick II., Marvin Jr., Marchanae, Ashley, Amanda; great grandchildren of love: Zander, Maddison, Jaylen, Maryah, Lily, Zachary, Bailyn, and M’Kenzie; special niece Piper Faulkner; special nephew Hallud Ferrebee; special cousin Joyce Buck and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.