Geraldine Penley Ballard
November 2, 1924 ~ September 26, 2018
Resided in:
Fletcher, NC
Geraldine Penley Ballard, 93, of Fletcher passed away Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at Memorial Mission Hospital.
A native of Buncombe County, she was a daughter of the late Belton Luther Penley and Bertha Mae Owenby Penley. She and her husband moved to Hilton Head Island, SC in 1977 and in 1978 opened a seafood restaurant there called Ballard’s Shrimp House. It turned out to be a successful, renowned business as well as the one they opened in Arden called Blue Bonnet for a period of time before they moved to Hilton Head.
In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, William F. Ballard Sr.; her son, William F. Ballard, Jr.; a daughter, Pamela McMinn; two brothers, Ellis and Paul Penley and two sisters, Freida Morris and Aliene Ballard. She is also preceded in death by grandchildren, Hope Ballard, and infant twins Pam and Daniel Wooten.
She is survived by two daughters, Gloria Cole and Renee Parker both of Fletcher; daughter-in-law, Cathy Ballard of Beaufort; two sisters, Nell Godfrey (Ralph) of Asheville and Retha Angel of Arden, fourteen grandchildren, Tripp Ballard, Wesley Ballard (Jennifer), Joshua Ballard (Katelyn), Tara Arrowood (Tony), Brad McMinn (Leah), Jonathan McMinn (Jordan), Mandi Franks (David), Noelle Cole, Matthew Cole (Carly), Joseph Cole, Mark Cole (Tessa), Lauren Martin (Kinley), Richie Turner and Sydney Contreras; fifteen great-grandchildren Caroline, Hunter, Autumn Hope, Dane, Hudson Grey, Mariah, Amanda, Caleb, Samuel, Nora, Brody, Lucas, Layla, Xavier and Kylee; one great-great grandson, Daxton; and her very special friend, Jane Hughes.
Mrs. Ballard was an avid gardener and a loyal Atlanta Braves fan. She was a dedicated and selfless mother and Nana. She loved to cook, sing, and never met a child she didn’t love. She was truly loved and admired by her family and will be greatly missed. Jesus was her best friend.
A funeral service will be held 2:00pm Saturday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home Tunnel Rd. Burial will follow at Gashes Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road is assisting the family and the online memorial is available at grocefuneralhome.com
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Gloria, My condolences to you and all your family. I remember your mother being so kind to me when Pam and I played at your house growing up.
Sweet nana was such a warm and friendly soul who was always smiling. She had a great sense of humor. She will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing or meeting her. Much love to this family who has always made me feel like a part of it.
As we loss those we love, it is with pain of heart that we strive to move on. What a wonderful hope we have of a future time as Isaiah33:24 says ‘ And no reside will say ‘I am sick.’? The people dwelling in the land will be pardon for their error. To the Ballard family and friends I am so very sorry for your loss
So sorry for your loss. Prayers sent to all the family. She was a beautiful women in the picture.