Sue was born in Weaverville, NC to Harry and Ruth Garrison. She graduated high school at North Buncombe High in 1960, and went on in 1964 to earn a bachelor degree in Home Economics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Sue married her childhood sweetheart, Charles Bruce Ballard in June 1964. They have two wonderful children, Charles Bruce Ballard, Jr. and Susan Ballard Workman. Sue was a career educator beginning as a Home Economist for Duke Power and also teaching high school Home Economics in the 1960’s. From the mid 1970’s to early 1990’s, Sue taught many precious 4-year old children at Millbrook Baptist Church Preschool. Sue went on to finish her amazing teaching career at Meredith College within the Early Childhood Development program between the mid 1990’s and mid 2000’s.
Sue faithfully served her beloved Millbrook Baptist Church as Deacon for multiple terms over her 45 years there, and she very proudly served Raleigh’s Frankie Lemmon School Board for more than 10 years. Sue’s lifelong passion for teaching & developing young children coupled with the 2007 birth of her only grandson, Dylan Markus Workman, provided many joyous retirement years as a loving and nurturing grandmother. Sue was also a faithful and dedicated mother, wife, sister, sister-in-law, daughter, mother-In-law, aunt, cousin and friend to so many she loved and personally touched over her truly beautiful 75 years of life.
Sue is survived by her husband, Charles Bruce Ballard; her son Charles Bruce Ballard, Jr. (Heather) and daughter Susan Ballard Workman (Mark); grandson Dylan Markus Workman, and her two brothers Mike and Jim Garrison. Sue’s family also pays special tribute to the truly phenomenal caretakers who assisted with her health over the final years of her glorious life.
The Ballard family will receive friends Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 2:00pm followed by a 3:00pm Celebration of Life service at Millbrook Baptist Church, 1519 E. Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27609. A private family burial ceremony will be conducted on a later date. Pastors Andrea Jones and Bob Albritton will officiate. Brown-Wynne Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, Sue’s family respectfully requests charitable donations be considered for either The Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center (www.frankielemmonschool.org) or the Millbrook Baptist Church Preschool (www.millbrookbaptistchurch.org).
