Judy Ballance Baker

Judy Ballance Baker, 83, of Greenville, NC passed away on December 24, 2024, at her family home with family at her side.
Judy was a well-known educator, community service coordinator, and volunteer. She was a beacon of light and joy to her family and friends, as well as coworkers and students. She had a strong passion for life and she led by example.
Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 28th, at 10:30 AM at Wilkerson Funeral Home. Visitation will be before the service, from 9 AM – 10:15 AM. Burial will follow the service at Pinewood Memorial Park.
Judy was raised in Pitt County and attended Greenville High School and proceeded to ECU for college where she became an educator. She was a teacher and basketball coach at Greene Central High School prior to becoming a Health Educator at ECU. She was the founder and director of the ECU Volunteer Center and founder of the "Power of One" mentoring program.
She was an academic advisor, a member of the Honors Faculty, and a graduate student mentor.
Judy was a member of First Free Will Baptist Church. Judy was surrounded in her life by such a large family, so very many friends, and her students who cherished her, and she was loved by so many. She was a mom to so many of Kevin and Shanna's friends, great-nieces and nephews, as well as being Nana to all. The family and Judy are eternally grateful for all of the people that participated in her healthcare, including Denise Beaman, the many nurses apart of visiting angels, and the hospice team.
Judy received the following awards: ODK Leadership Society Keating Award & ODK President's Award, Ronald McDonald House Outstanding Service Award, Outstanding Advisor Award, Chancellor's Society Award, Points of Light Award, Governor's Outstanding Service Award, Red Cross Charter Members Award, HHP Outstanding Service Award, Eta Sigma Gamma Outstanding Service Award, NCAVA Marsha Riddle Lifetime Achievement Award, Founders Award, Chancellor's Excellence Award, and was voted one of the top 100 incredible women of ECU.
Judy was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 47 years, Gene P. Baker; parents, Emma and Lloyd Ballance; siblings, Bernadine Carraway, Charles Ballance, Elton Ballance, Doug Ballance, and James Lloyd Ballance.
She is survived by her son, Charles Kevin Baker; daughter, Shanna Baker; granddaughter, Coral Cooper with husband Nick Cooper; great-grandchildren Trey and Briar Cooper; nephews Burney and Sidney Carraway, and all of their children.
Memorials may be made in her honor to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern North Carolina, 529 Moye Blvd, Greenville, NC 27834; or the Boys and Girls Club- Pitt County, 475 Belvoir Hwy # 1, Greenville, NC 27834.