Obituary of Jerry Leon Ball

A gathering of family and friends to pay tribute and remember the life of Jerry Leon Ball will be held Sunday, May 29th, at 2 PM at First Baptist Church in Bastrop, Louisiana. Visitation will precede the service at 1 PM. Mr. Ball will be laid to rest at the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery in Linville, Louisiana. Jerry went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, May 25th following a lengthy illness at the age of 83. Services will be under the direction of Golden Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Gambill, Dr. Johnny Sanders, and Bro. Phil Smith officiating. Jerry was born on January 31, 1933, in Bastrop, Louisiana, and was a graduate of Bastrop High School in 1951. He proudly served his country in the United States Army and the Army National Guard of Louisiana from 1956-1962, obtaining the rank of Sergeant and working as a Russian translator. He graduated from then Northeast Louisiana State College in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in accounting. After working in the Denham Springs area, he began a career at State Farm Insurance Company in 1969 that spanned 36 years, first as an accounting supervisor and later retiring as a Senior Underwriter in the Fire and Casualty Department in 1995. An accomplished public speaker, Jerry was active in Toastmasters, along with writing articles for State Farm’s in-house publications. He was very active in the First Baptist Church of Bastrop, Louisiana, serving as a deacon, church treasurer and Sunday School teacher. His qualities of leadership, perseverance, steadfastness and wisdom will be greatly missed. Jerry was preceded in death by his wife of 29 years, Mildred Johnson Ball, father Berry Ball, mother Helen Talley, and stepfather Perry Talley. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Diane Rushing Ball, daughter Amy Ball Collins, son-in-law Ricky Collins, daughter Jennifer King Clark, son-in-law Nolan Clark, and son Gene King. His grandchildren include Jake Smith, Cullen Clark, Austin Clark, Nathan King and his wife Brittany, Naomi King Bedout and her husband Cody, Hannah King, Ruth King, Seth King, Daniel King, David King, and great granddaughter Esther Ruth King. Pallbearers are Jake Smith, Cullen Clark, Austin Clark, Nathan King, Seth King, Gene King, Nolan Clark and Ricky Collins. Honorary pallbearers include the deacons of First Baptist Church Bastrop and Richard Collins. The family wishes to extend a very special thank you to the dear friends and church family of First Baptist Church Bastrop, Dr. Carter Cox, Dr. Scott Barron and his staff at Oncology & Associates, the staff and Pediatric Nurses at Glenwood Regional Medical Center, and the wonderful nurses on the second floor of Morehouse General Hospital.