1928
Magnolia
2016
Magnolia F. Ballard
May 3, 1928 — April 11, 2016
Magnolia F. Ballard
May 3, 1928 – April 11, 2016
Magnolia 87, called "Steel Magnolia" by her children for her enduring strength, passed away April 11, after an extended illness.
Magnolia, named after the sweet Southern flower lived up to her name. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her would say she had a heart of gold and offered unconditional love.
She grew up in the mountains of Young Harris and Hayesville on a large farm with her mother Dollie and 6 sisters, Lois, Juanita, Idell & Odell, Janette and Joy. The girls along with their mother worked very hard. "Too hard sometimes for girls" she would say later.
She married young and had eight children, 5 girls and 3 boys. She spent much of her time growing large vegetable gardens and canning hundreds of quarts of food to feed her family during the winter. She especially loved spending time with her children picking wild strawberries and blackberries. Homemade hominy made outside in a big black kettle pot with her mother and sisters was a favorite family treat.
She always listened to county music but later became the biggest fan of Blake Shelton and attended 9 of his concerts and was a raving fan club member.
She was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her eight children Sim Ballard, her son, Clayton Ballard and late husband Kenny Rhodes. Her sisters, Odell Shook, Juanita Sistrunk & Reva Lois Price.
She is survived by her sisters Idell Shook, Janette Fonville, and Joy Crow. She will be especially missed by her children: Sons and daughters-in law, Steve and Denise Ballard of Gainesville, Joyce Ballard of Lawrenceville, Stan Ballard of Gainesville; daughters and sons-in-law, Sue Brewer McGill of Hayesville, Sadie and John McElroy of Gainesville, Roxann Ballard of Hayesville, Jeannie B. McMillan of Gainesville, Connie and Wayne Pressley of Cleveland. She has 11 Grandchildren: Terrell Foster, Johnny & Jeff McElroy, Jeannie, McElroy Copeland, Marsha Ballard, Tom Sidders, Barbara Ilie, Tony and Tim Pressley, Jamie Hess & Cody Ballard. 13 Great Grandchildren: Sydney and Lily Foster, Heather Oliver, Seth Pressley, Bailey, Josey and Kelly Hess , Gabriel Ilie, Gunner & Fischer Young. She was so delighted to have 3 new Great Grandchildren born in 2015; Evan Copeland, Brandon Sidders and Kerri Lynn Pressley. She has many nieces and nephews whom she loved.
Those wishing to leave online condolences may do so at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com
Magnolia's memorial service will be held at Woods Grove Baptist Church 2224 State Hwy 17 Young Harris, GA on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 2:00 pm. Flowers may be delivered to the church from 10 am till 1:30 pm.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville.
May 3, 1928 – April 11, 2016
Magnolia 87, called "Steel Magnolia" by her children for her enduring strength, passed away April 11, after an extended illness.
Magnolia, named after the sweet Southern flower lived up to her name. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her would say she had a heart of gold and offered unconditional love.
She grew up in the mountains of Young Harris and Hayesville on a large farm with her mother Dollie and 6 sisters, Lois, Juanita, Idell & Odell, Janette and Joy. The girls along with their mother worked very hard. "Too hard sometimes for girls" she would say later.
She married young and had eight children, 5 girls and 3 boys. She spent much of her time growing large vegetable gardens and canning hundreds of quarts of food to feed her family during the winter. She especially loved spending time with her children picking wild strawberries and blackberries. Homemade hominy made outside in a big black kettle pot with her mother and sisters was a favorite family treat.
She always listened to county music but later became the biggest fan of Blake Shelton and attended 9 of his concerts and was a raving fan club member.
She was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her eight children Sim Ballard, her son, Clayton Ballard and late husband Kenny Rhodes. Her sisters, Odell Shook, Juanita Sistrunk & Reva Lois Price.
She is survived by her sisters Idell Shook, Janette Fonville, and Joy Crow. She will be especially missed by her children: Sons and daughters-in law, Steve and Denise Ballard of Gainesville, Joyce Ballard of Lawrenceville, Stan Ballard of Gainesville; daughters and sons-in-law, Sue Brewer McGill of Hayesville, Sadie and John McElroy of Gainesville, Roxann Ballard of Hayesville, Jeannie B. McMillan of Gainesville, Connie and Wayne Pressley of Cleveland. She has 11 Grandchildren: Terrell Foster, Johnny & Jeff McElroy, Jeannie, McElroy Copeland, Marsha Ballard, Tom Sidders, Barbara Ilie, Tony and Tim Pressley, Jamie Hess & Cody Ballard. 13 Great Grandchildren: Sydney and Lily Foster, Heather Oliver, Seth Pressley, Bailey, Josey and Kelly Hess , Gabriel Ilie, Gunner & Fischer Young. She was so delighted to have 3 new Great Grandchildren born in 2015; Evan Copeland, Brandon Sidders and Kerri Lynn Pressley. She has many nieces and nephews whom she loved.
Those wishing to leave online condolences may do so at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com
Magnolia's memorial service will be held at Woods Grove Baptist Church 2224 State Hwy 17 Young Harris, GA on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 2:00 pm. Flowers may be delivered to the church from 10 am till 1:30 pm.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Magnolia F. Ballard, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Starts at 2:00 pm
Woods Grove Baptist Church
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