Matthew Davis Ballard

Our beloved Matthew left this world for a better one on January 7, 2018 at Baroness Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga,TN after a brief illness. Matthew was born on October 30, 1977 at Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center. He was a 1996 graduate of Jacksonville High School and attended JSU for several years. He was a carpenter by trade and enjoyed anything having to do with homebuilding. Matthew was an avid University of Alabama fan. Roll Tide Roll! He enjoyed the outdoors and loved to hunt and fish. He rarely met someone he did not call a friend and if you met him, if only once, you could expect a friend for life. He had a heart bigger than life and would give you the shirt off of his back. He was truly a loyal friend. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Mary Lou Ballard, Reford and Louise Weldon and Catherine Griffith, as well as, his uncle and aunt William "Buddy" and Jean Weldon. He was also preceded in death by many great aunts and uncles whom he treasured. Matthew is survived by his parents James and Reatha Ballard, his son Matthew Ballard, Jr., two brothers, his twin Andrew and Mark (Terri) Ballard, one sister Julie (Lea) Scott, his special aunt Ada Ruth Weldon and several other aunts and uncles, as well as several nieces and nephews. There will be a memorial service held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 1 o'clock in the afternoon at K.L. Brown Funeral Home in Jacksonville followed by a Celebration of Matthew's life at the Anniston F.O.P. lodge in Weaver. If you cannot attend the celebration the family will receive friends one hour prior to the memorial service. Please dress casually for the service, if you would like please wear your favorite Roll Tide gear. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your favorite charitable organization in Matthew's memory. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.klbrown funeralhome.com