Rayford Earl Ballard

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, on June 26, 1939, Rayford grew up with a deep sense of duty and adventure. He graduated from Palmetto High School in Williamston, South Carolina. It was during his early years that he met the love of his life, Janet. The couple was married on June 3, 1961, in Oxford, England, beginning a beautiful journey of partnership and love that spanned over 65 years.

Rayford dedicated his life to serving his country and his community. He served honorably in the United States Air Force for 21 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant (MSGT). Following his military retirement, he pursued higher education and graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. He then continued his public service with the United States Postal Service, dedicating approximately 18 years to his career there before fully retiring.

Outside of work, Rayford was a passionate outdoorsman who loved fishing, boating, and camping. He and Janet shared a love for travel, but his absolute favorite pastime was spending as much time with his family as possible. He was also a loyal and avid fan of the Miami Dolphins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Gordon Ballard; his mother, Ruth Brady-Ballard; his stepmother, Audrey Stanton-Ballard; and his sisters, Gloria Ballard-Sargent and Ellen Ballard.

Rayford’s legacy of love, strength, and dedication lives on through his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Janet Ballard; his sons, Chris Ballard and Andy Ballard; his daughter, Kim Ballard-Driskell; and his brother, Ed Ballard. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren who will miss their Papa dearly.

A funeral service to honor and celebrate Rayford's life will be held on August 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Mary of the Angels Episcopal Church, located at 6316 Matchett Rd., Orlando, FL 32809.

His final resting place will be at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, located at 5525 U.S. 1, Mims, Florida 32754, where he will be laid to rest with military honors on August 17th, 2026, at 11:30 AM. Attendees are asked to arrive no later than 11:15 AM and stage in the assigned traffic lane “C”.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Rayford’s memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation or St. Mary of the Angels Episcopal Church.

To access the Parkinson’s Foundation tribute page for Rayford, click on the following link: https://secure.parkinson.org/site/TR/Tributes/General?pg=personal&px=3325451&fr_id=5906

To access the St. Mary of the Angels Episcopal Church online giving page via their Realm giving platform, click on the following link: https://onrealm.org/StMaryTheAngels/-/form/give/now

When submitting your gift through Realm, please choose “Offering – Memorial Fund” from the drop-down and include a note in the “Memo” box, designating your donation in memory of Rayford Ballard.