Rev. Donald K. Ballard's Obituary
Rev. Donald K. Ballard of Memphis, TN joined the church triumphant on Friday, April 4, 2014 at the age of 98. A native of Middlesboro, KY, he was preceded in death by parents William and Fannie Ballard; Brothers, Padget, William, Paul, Jimmy; and Mae, his sister.He was married to the late Lola Irene Sutton Ballard for 48 years until her death on April 11, 1988. Donald and Lola were high school sweethearts who were married during the war and served the Lord as pastor and wife for eight congregations in KY, AL, MS, TX and TN. They had three children: Donna Kaye, Gary Don and Jon Stephen, all deceased and waiting for him in heaven. Donald and Lola are survived by daughters-in-law: Sheilda Roberts Ballard of Summit, MS and Kimberly Ballard of Selma, TN; Grandchildren: Gary Don (Jamie) Ballard of Houston, TX, Darin C. (Amanda) Ballard of Summit, MS, Jon Stephen Ballard II, Amber Ballard and Lacey Tanner of Selma, TN; Great-grandchildren: Gary Davis Ballard, Drew James Ballard, Julia Grace Ballard, Jake William Ballard, Madison Tanner, and Jordanne Tanner.He was married to Martha Hatchett Ballard for 25 years until her death in February of 2014. They lived in Collierville near Martha’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who loved him very much and kept his life full of laughter and fun. He was known to them as “Pappa Don.”After finishing high school in Middlesboro, Donald joined the Navy in 1935 serving during World War II and Vietnam. His love for the Navy was endless and his respect for service men and women never ended, as he often tried to recruit young people to consider joining the Navy as a career. He retired as a chaplain from the Navy in 1976 as a Lieutenant Junior Grade.While in the Navy, he played on the ship’s baseball team where he was offered a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He signed the contract and played one summer in Johnson City, TN as a short stop and pitcher before the US entered World War II. In 2011 he was called up to throw out the first pitch in St. Louis and fulfill what he had begun in the 1940’s.Following the war he was discharged from the Navy and returned home to KY. He then enrolled at Trevecca Nazarene College to study for the ministry. Following his graduation in 1950, he accepted a call to Corbin, KY First Church of the Nazarene to pastor. He then pastored congregations in the Church of the Nazarene in Middlesboro, KY (First), Tuscaloosa, AL (Holten Heights), Lanett, Alabama (First), McComb, MS (First), Lufkin, TX (First), Chattanooga, TN (Grace), and Memphis, TN (First). Donald then went into full time evangelism and preached in 37 states over the years, conducting hundreds of revivals and crusades. He was an evangelist at heart and loved to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.Funeral service will be held at Memorial Park on Poplar Avenue on Tuesday, April 8th. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am with service following at 11:30 a.m. Rev. G. Don Ballard of Houston, TX and Rev. Mark Lancaster of Collierville, TN will conduct the services.Location: Garden of Meditation, North Arrow Color: White
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