Betty Grace Ballard

Betty Grace Ballard, age 81, of Tuscaloosa, went to be with the Lord Oct. 26, 2011, from Glen Haven Nursing Home. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Chapel of Memories Mausoleum at Memory Hill Gardens with Rev. James Walker officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Gardens with Memory Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

She was preceded in death by her father, William T. Davis; her mother, Burlia Davis; brother, Albert “Bubba” Davis; sisters, Inez Clements and JoNell Hassell; and her beloved husband of 61 years, Marvin Junior Ballard.

Survivors include her sons, Robert “Bobby” Ballard (Jackie) and William “Mark Ballard (Melissa); daughters, Linda Williams (Grady) and Wanda Garner (Rodney); grandchildren, Scott Green (Sondra), Lane Green, Shane Ballard (Sherry), Kevin Ballard (Christen), Cindi Sonnier (Robby), Chad Garner (Shawnna), Adam Ballard, and Heather Ballard; and sisters, Billy Ann Vetrano (Frank) of Birmingham and Diane Lott (Jimmy) of Pensacola, Fla. She had nine great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mrs. Ballard was born May 25, 1930, in Hale County, Ala. to the late William and Burlia Davis. She was a lifetime member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Tuscaloosa and a retired employee of Andrew Knit.

She was a devoted wife as well as a loving mother. She loved spending time with all of her children and grandchildren. She had a special love for her pet chihuahuas, Tippy, Tiny, and Brutus. She will be greatly missed by her family, but they rejoice that she is now with her Lord and Savior, and their faith assures them that they will all be together again someday in Heaven.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Scott Green, Lane Green, Shane Ballard, Kevin Ballard, Cole Ballard, Chad Garner, Robby Sonnier, Adam Ballard, and Jack Ballard.

Honorary pallbearers are the staff of Glen Haven Nursing Home, families of the First Church of the Nazarene, friends and neighbors of Manora Estates, and special friends James and Vera Elledge.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the building fund of the First Church of the Nazarene or to a charity of one's choice .