Martha Alexander Ball

Born to Clara and Johnny Alexander on January 17, 1933, she was the second of three children, with older sister Shirley and younger brother Johnny. Growing up in an idyllic southern small town of Union, Mississippi where faith, family and friends formed the bedrock of her early years, she thrived in all activities.

Graduating from Union High School, having been named Miss Union High School as well as a Varsity cheerleader, Martha continued her education at Mississippi College for Women (MSCW, now MUW) in Columbus, MS where she majored in Bacteriology with a Chemistry minor. It was during those early college years, while on a trip home to visit her family, that she was introduced to her future husband…George Ball. George traveled from Tylertown, MS and was playing football at East Central Junior College (ECJC) in nearby Decatur, MS. Although young George had a blind date with one of Martha’s friends that first evening, he made it clear to Martha at the end of that night that: “I’m coming back…to see YOU!”

From that first bold statement, a romance was to grow and to continue for the next 4 years, leading up to their wedding day.

George moved on from ECJC to Mississippi State University where he continued his pre-medical studies and found himself in much closer proximity to “Miss Martha”, in nearby Columbus, MS.

Upon their completion of college, the couple were married in her hometown church, Union Presbyterian on July 24, 1955.

As they began their married life together, they progressed into medical school, first in Oxford, MS for their first 2 years and then for the final 2 years at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, LA. Completing his MD degree, George was accepted into the OBGYN Residency Program at Charity Hospital (Tulane Division). During these early years, Martha supported the family working as a laboratory technician at Tulane Medical School. Additionally, Martha was to see her family grow and thrive with the addition of 4 sons: George Christopher (1956); David Kyle (1957); William Gregory (1959); and later, John Jeffrey (1962).

Upon completion of his specialty training, the Ball family entered into a 6-year stent with the United States Air Force, initially stationed at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico and then onto Chanute AFB, Rantoul, Illinois. In 1965, the family returned to Mississippi, establishing home in Jackson, MS where George started The Clinic for Women with friend and fellow OBGYN, Dr. Ken Pittman. The group grew over time: was renamed The Clinic for Women of Central Mississippi; grew to include 6 doctors and a support staff of 20.

It was here in Jackson that Martha “put down her roots” and enmeshed herself in all things' “family”. A lifelong dedication to “her boys” with all of their activities as well as active civic involvement with Alta Woods United Methodist Church, the South Jackson Civic League (president), the Rebecca Cravat Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Colonial Dames of America-Chapter XV.

As her boys grew into men, Martha and George indulged their passion of travel, making multiple trips to locales across our nation and the world – always together.

Martha is preceded in death by her husband of 69 ½ years, George. She is survived by her 4 SONS: Dr. George Christopher (Karen); Dr. David Kyle (Maury); Rev William Gregory, and Dr. John Jeffrey (Courtney). Her 12 GRANDCHILDREN: Katherine, Tyler (Lindsay); Sara Martin (Hess); George (Monet); John; Elizabeth (Mike); William (Nicole); Kathryn; Sidney; Taylor (Macy); Kittie (Ben); Caleb (Camryn). Her 16 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Carter & Collin (Ball); Bennett, Luke & Kyle (Ball); Gabriel, Vivienne & Zachery (Jones); James, Luke & Charlie (Ball); Lucy & Louise (Robertson); Briggs & Lila (Ball); Amelia (Starkey).

The family wishes to acknowledge the excellent and compassionate care of hospice nurse April bridges, RN BSN of Mississippi Homecare services (Baptist).

Visitation for Martha Ball will be Saturday, May 10, 2025 with a visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Parkway Funeral Home 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland MS.