Frances Stewart Ball, 83, passed away on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle in Columbus, Mississippi. Private funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 17 in the Nowell-Massey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Heath Hillman officiating. Interment will follow at Murphy Creek Cemetery with Nowell-Massey Funeral Home of Louisville in charge of arrangements.
Frances, born on January 20, 1937, was one of 14 children born to Winford Wade and Carrie Izora Stewart in Winston County, Mississippi, of the well-known Stewart Pottery Family. She was a graduate of Bond High School where she was voted as “Miss Bond” during her senior year. Frances was also involved in basketball and cheerleading during her high school years. She was a committed member of the First Baptist Church of Louisville for 54 years where she was involved in WMU and the Joy Club and was also a dedicated choir member. Frances and her husband, Buddy, were entrepreneurs of several business ventures in Louisville. Among them were Peggy’s Grill, Kwik Pik #1, Kwik Pik #2, Sunshine Laundromat, and Fran’s Florist. One of her hobbies was gardening as evidenced by her 40-year membership in the Town & Country Garden Club. She was also involved in the Friends of Legion State Park and Habitat for Humanity. Frances has first elected to serve as an alderwoman for the City of Louisville in 1977 and has served a total of 23 years. She dedicated her life to the service of others, the City of Louisville, and to community service for which she was awarded the Woman of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award presented through the Winston-Louisville Chamber of Commerce. The essence of her life can be best summarized by her words: "My greatest joy is being with my family. I intend to continue to serve my community, church, and family as long as I can. The strongest force in my life is serving and worshiping God. One of my greatest strengths is prayer and God's word. Louisville is very special to me. I have raised my family here. My children and most of my grandchildren attended or attends school here. It's a great place!"
Frances is survived by her loving husband of 64 years Marion “Buddy” Ball. She is also survived by her children: Debbie Ball Williams of Olive Branch, Mississippi, Marion “Rooster” Ball and wife Jennifer of Louisville, and William Ball and wife JJ of Noxapater, Mississippi. One of her greatest joys was being “Sue” to her nine grandchildren: Carley (Ramey) Smith, Casey (Lindsey) Cade, Taylor Williams, Laurel Ball, Madelyn Ball, Mack Ball, Stewart Ball, Wyatt Ball, and Roper Ball; as well as her four great-grandchildren: Sarah Scott Smith, Catherine James Smith, Holt Cade and Mia Cade. Frances is survived by her siblings: Sammie Alumbro, Frank (Earline) Stewart, Brenda (Wayne) Castleberry, Dixie (Marlon) Williamson, Zelda (J. W.) Gully, Pat Goodin, Junior (Louise) Stewart, Bobby Stewart, Bill (Charlene) Stewart, and Delaine (Donnie) Woodruff, as well as a host of loving nieces and nephews. Frances was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Charles Stewart and Jack Stewart, her sister Janet Gentry, three nephews: Stephen Goodin, Dan Stewart, Wade Stewart, and her niece Cindy Faust.
Serving as pallbearers are Stan Goodin, Will Hill, Cully Hudspeth, Hal Nowell, Russ Nowell, and Jeff Terry. Memorials in honor of Frances may be given to the First Baptist Church of Louisville, 2378 S. Church Avenue, Louisville, MS 39339.
Services are under the direction of Nowell Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowell-masseyfuneralhome.com.
