Jodie Keegan Ballenger

She is survived by her husband, Jon Cecil (Jonny) Ballenger, Jr.; her children Jon Cecil (Jack) Ballenger, III and Seale Harris (Brother) Ballenger (husband Chris Ballard); and grandchildren Jon Cecil Ballenger, IV (wife Susan) and Keegan Ballenger Banks (husband Will); and great grandchildren Jon Cecil (Jack) Ballenger, V and Hutchings Harris (Hutch) Banks.

Jodie was born on September 5, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended Mountain Brook Elementary and Shades Valley High School, where she was a member of the Theta Kappa Delta (TKD) sorority.

While at Shades Valley, she met the love of her life, Jonny. She was the Sigma fraternity sweetheart, but her heart always belonged to Jonny on the football field. They were pretty much inseparable and were nominated as TWIRP King and Queen while there.

After graduating from Shades Valley, Jodie attended the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She and Jonny were married on July 1, 1959 and celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this past summer.

Jodie was a devoted wife and mother, and enjoyed her years teaching kindergarten at Mountain Brook Baptist Church. She was a member of the Junior League of Birmingham and was especially proud of her league work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alabama. She was also a lifelong member of Independent Presbyterian Church.

Jodie was a social butterfly and a founding member of Little Club. She was the ringleader for the Ladie’s Aid Society, as she and her group of friends jokingly called themselves.

Jodie had a wicked sense of humor and a laugh that could light up a room. Her favorite thing was to get so tickled by something that it would leave her gasping for air with tears rolling down her face. Whenever she would walk through Crestline Village the air would be peppered with people shouting “Hey, Jodie!” She was the life of the party and never met a person who didn’t fall in love with her instantly.

She had a big heart and was a staunch supporter of The Fresh Air Farm, Studio By the Tracks (promoting works by artists on the autistic spectrum) and The Big Oak Ranch for Children.

Jodie loved the beach, dogs, music and books, and shared those affinities with her family. She was an avid soap opera fan and sports fan, particularly when rooting for her alma mater and favorite team, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

She took great pride in her home, especially growing plants and flowers (particularly roses), but her passion was her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, who were the focus and pride of her life.

A visitation will take place Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM CT at Ridout’s Valley Chapel (1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209). A graveside funeral service will be held immediately after at 2:00 PM CT at Elmwood Cemetery (600 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Birmingham, AL 35211).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Big Oak Ranch, 6000 Shelley Drive, Springville, AL 35146 https://bigoak.org