Ella Ballard

Mrs. Elaine Ryle Ballard peacefully passed away on Thursday, July 5, 2012 at her home in Madison, Mississippi at the age of 100. She was born in Attala County to Albert Henry Ryle and Dora Cummins Ryle on June 7, 1912. She was one of 10 children who grew up in the Attala County area.

Mrs. Ballard married Charles Earl Ballard on July 8, 1930. They had three daughters and lived in Fayette, Mississippi until they moved to Madison in 1987. Mrs. Ballard spent her life as a devout Baptist, homemaker, loving wife and mother, and a devoted grandmother. When asked about what she was most proud of she would have a twinkle in her eye and say, “I have the greatest grandkids in the world.”

Mrs. Ballard is preceded in death by her husband Charles Earl Ballard and grandsons Robert Kirk Hudson and George Ryles Logan.

She is survived by daughters Mildred Gorman of Jackson, Mississippi, Donjre Logan of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Sandra Smith of Natchez, Mississippi and grandchildren Julie Gorman Levanway, Sherry Gorman Sanderson, John Ballard Gorman, Charles Harper Logan, Schawn Logan Shipley, James Paul Hudson, and Nicholas Matthew Kowaluk. She was also blessed with 14 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

On Monday, July 9, 2012 from 10 to 11 a.m. the family will be receiving visitation at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home on Highland Colony Parkway. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at The Natchez Trace Cemetery.