Jerrell Ballard

Jerrell Rae Ballard. 87, passed from this life December 29, 2024. He was born in New Orleans during the Great Depression, to Horace William and Margie May Morris Ballard on June 26, 1937. 

Jerrell grew up on a sugar cane plantation and graduated from Franklin High School in Franklin, Louisiana, in May 1956. The day after graduation he hitch-hiked to Houston, Texas, to live with his brother "Buck" and sister-in-law, Marguerite Ballard. Due to illness, he returned to Louisiana to live with his mom and dad where he met and married Delores Walker. Her brother-in-law, Bill Brunner introduced him to prosthetics where he spent his life-long career of 53 years making and fitting artificial limbs. Interrupted by the Army draft in 1961 to 1963 he served as a medic at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. After his discharge, he continued his education at Northwestern University and UCLA where he achieved his certification in prosthetics. He was the #537th Prosthetist certified by the American Board of Certification in Prosthetics and Orthotics, USA. He started his own business in Amarillo, Texas, but in 1972 felt God’s call to the mission field. He was called to Barranquilla, Colombia, South America, where he served for 10 years while his children, Karen and Jerry attended school in Venezuela. He returned to the USA in 1982 and established Ballard Prosthetics in Jackson, MS with various satellite offices across Mississippi. . 

In 1993 he married Gloria Clark Webb, the love of his life and his caretaker. They enjoyed many years of wedded bliss and felt so blessed to have found each other. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Byram and through the years continued doing medical mission work. 

Jerrell loved hunting and fishing at the Ballard Fish Camp in Manchac, Louisiana. A fierce competitor he loved playing all kinds of games. He loved to win and did not cut anyone any slack, not even his grandkids. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Arvil Ballard, Buck Ballard, Rudy Ballard, and Harold Ballard; and his son, Jerrell R. Ballard Jr. 

He loved his Lord first and then his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Gloria Ballard, and his daughter, Karen Ballard Thomas (Alan Smith) of Clinton, MS, daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Ballard of Vicksburg, MS, and stepchildren, Thomas David Webb (Cristi) of Fulton, MS, Phillip Dewayne Webb (Megan) of Destin, FL, and Angelia Deanice Webb Sanders (Stacy) of Pontotoc, MS. He also leaves behind his grandchildren and had a special message for them, John Austin Battenfield (Megan), Houston Connor Battenfield, William A. Ballard (Jen), Mary Elizabeth Ballard, Katelyn Nicole Sanders, Shane Evan Sanders,  Joshua Denton Webb, Peyton Elizabeth Webb, Kyla Elizabeth Webb, and Nolan John Thomas Webb; and a great grandson,Noah Michael Battenfield.  He loved grandchildren and great grandchild very much and his special message was that he wanted to encourage them to seek God for direction in their lives. 

Jerrell wants to thank his sisters, Peggy Martin, Gail Baham (Eugene), Brenda Schilling (John), and his sister-in-law, Edna Ballard for their love, support, and advice through the years. 

To his many friends, a message from Jerrell:  "Thank you for your love and our times of worship together. Stay true to God. Don’t grieve for me for I am with my Lord, and I am not suffering from Parkinson’s anymore. I can walk in heaven praising God with my voice and singing. No more wheelchairs for Jerrell!"