Howard Red Ballentine

Funeral Services for Howard “Red” Ballentine, 79 of Jacksonville will be Wednesday, July 1, 2015 at 1:00 at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church with Dr. Billy Harris officiating. Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, Jume 30, 2015 from 6-8 at Gray Brown Service Mortuary. Mr. Ballentine passed away Friday, June 26, 2015 at his residence.

Survivors include his wife Helen Hyatt Ballentine of Jacksonville, daughters Rosemary Parris Smith (Tommy), Jennifer Ballentine Moore (Kenny) both of Jacksonville, Mellisa Eberle (Rob) of Moody and daughter-in-law Brenda Ford Ballentine, sisters Vera Medders (Ronnie) of Jacksonville, Judy McAnnalley of Georgia, brother Ted Homesley (Ginger) of Jacksonville, grandchildren Bruce Ballentine, Ray Ballentine, John Ballentine, Michaela Moore, Robert Smith, Sarah Gann, Margaret Mills, Camille Eberle and Autumn Eberle, 16 great grandchildren and 13 nieces and nephews.

Mr. Ballentine is preceded in death by his mother Roxie Homesley, step-father James F. Homesley, father Lumus Leroy Ballentine, grandparents Richard and Maggie Turner, sons Howard Ballentine, Michael Ballentine, Johnny Ballentine and a sister June Weatherly and brother Bobby Ballentine.

Pallbearers will be Bud Simmons, Ronnie Couch, Jimmy Lee, Mark Barnwell, Mike Sanders, Jimmy Littlejohn, Jerry Gardner and Bill Gardner, honorary pallbearers will be National Guard of 151st Engineers and 1151st Engineers.

Mr. Ballentine was a native of Georgia and a resident of Calhoun County. He was a member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. He retired from the National Guard after 43 ½ years of service where he achieved many awards for his cooking. He was also a master woodcraftsman.