Saturday, December 30, 2023

Marion "Buddy" Ball

Marion “Buddy” Ball, 90, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Winston Medical Center Nursing Home in Louisville, Mississippi. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, January 1, 2024, in the Nowell-Massey Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Heath Hillman officiating. Visitation will be the day of the service at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Interment will immediately follow the service in Murphy Creek Cemetery.

Buddy was born in Louisville, Mississippi, on August 18,1933, to William Dee and Hester Prisock Ball. Buddy along with his wife, Frances, were entrepreneurs of several business ventures in Louisville. Among their most distinguishable ventures were Kwik Pik #1 and Kwik Pik #2 as they were the first convenience stores in the area. Buddy earned a Bachelor of Science degree and was a Certified Public Accountant. He was a member of the Louisville Volunteer Fire Department for more than 30 years. Buddy loved to play cards at the fire department and enjoyed fishing. He also served as a mail carrier back when the mail was delivered on rural routes and he served as president of the local Housing Authority. Buddy answered the call of his country by serving in the United States Army during the Korean War. In his later years, you would often see him sitting in his rocking chair on the front porch of his home on Ball Drive waving to those who drove by.

Buddy is survived by his 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 his greatest joys was being “Pop” to his nine grandchildren: Carley (Ramey) Smith, Casey (Lindsey) Cade, Taylor Williams, Laurel Ball (Michael) Beckham, Madelyn Ball (Thomas) Pugh, Mack Ball, Stewart (Ansley) Ball, Wyatt Ball, and Roper (Conner) Ball; as well as his six great-grandchildren: Sarah Scott Smith, Catherine James Smith, Holt Cade, Mia Cade, Francy Cade, and Rayne Beckham. He also leaves behind a sister, Delores Glazier, in addition to many loving nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. 

Buddy is preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Frances Stewart Ball; his parents; his sister, Ann Mayo; and his brother, Robert D. “Sonny” Ball.

Serving as pallbearers are Casey Cade, Mack Ball, Stewart Ball, Wyatt Ball, Roper Ball, Michael Beckham, Ramey Smith, and Thomas Pugh. 

Memorials may be given to the Murphy Creek Cemetery Fund, 5420 Bond Road, Louisville, MS 39339 or to the Winston Shrine Club, c/o Grover Vinning, 23 Tommy Drive, Philadelphia, MS 39360.

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.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.