Mary Elizabeth Shumate Ball of Ruston, Louisiana went to her heavenly home on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at the age of 96. She was born September 12, 1926 in Meridian, Mississippi to the late Lala Elaine McDonald Shumate and Tripp Eli Shumate.
Mary worked for over 20 years as Executive Secretary to the Vice-President of Mid-Continent Steel Company, a division of Kast Metals in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was a devoted wife to Andrew J. "A.J." Ball for 61 years until his passing in 2006. Mary loved her family and her Lord. She became a Christian at 25 and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Shreveport, where she was a member for years. Later in life, she became a Baptist and joined the Lakeshore Baptist Church of Shreveport and then Ford Park Baptist Church. In all her church affiliations through the years, she, along with her husband, were faithful members, who taught Sunday School and enjoyed ministry - especially to pre-schoolers.
Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Lala L. Ball; grandchildren, Lindsey Elizabeth Cooper Crawford and husband, Brent, Hannah Leigh Cooper Bowman and husband, Chris, Wade Andrew Crawford, Eli David Crawford, Jackson Allen Lee, Austin Randle Lee, Faith Ann Crawford and Emmaline Harper Lee, all from Ruston, Louisiana. She also is survived by her brother, Henry Ray Shumate of Las Vegas, Nevada as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew J. Ball of Shreveport, Louisiana and her brothers, Donald Lee Shumate of Kenner, Louisiana and Leslie Gene Shumate of Meridian, Mississippi.
Honoring her as pallbearers will be Wade Crawford, Eli Crawford, Jackson Lee, Austin Lee, Brent Crawford and Chris Bowman.
A private family graveside celebration will be held at Centuries Memorial Park, where she will be laid to rest.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Kim Roberson of Allegiance Hospice and the nurses and staff of Ruston Rehab and Nursing Center for their wonderful care they showed to Mary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Chatham Community Church, Freedom 13 Ministries, Biscuit Ministry and Gideons International in her memory.
