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Services are today for well liked business owner, leader
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The death of business owner and leader Jackie Ball came as a shock to the community when word began to spread Tuesday morning. Friends and family have taken time to share their thoughts and a story or two about the affable Ball.
Theresa Carden, Jackie’s hair dresser – “We all lost when we lost Jackie. She was such a wonderful person, a great long time friend, and you could talk to her about anything. Her loss is a big loss for our community. She gave her time and support to many causes. We last spoke a couple of weeks ago, and I said Jackie, you need to retire. I realized that the business was her life, and her business was her family in many ways. God’s gained an angel.”
Robin Robbins, Jackie’s niece – “We’ve lost the glue that held us all together. As a kid, Jackie and my mamaw would gather beans to can and would tell me that I needed to learn how to can. Can’t you just buy them at the store I asked. As I became older, my mamaw passed, and I thought I’d better learn how to can. I asked Jackie if she’d teach me how to can, and she said it’d be easier to buy them at the store. I was always calling her for recipes and would tell her what all I was canning. One time when I was at the La Follette Mine Supply, she presented me with a Ball Canning Award certificate, framed and all. She made sure I knew how to make meat loaf for my husband, Eric. She was always feeding and taking care of all of us.”
Big Josh Etter, friend and family – “Jackie was nice to me. Always. She and Bill had been married for 57 years, and we used to visit them here. We were always impressed with they way they loved it here after relocating in 1977. In fact, they were a big influence on us relocating here. And we were able to be a big part of that boy’s life, Billy. He’s a grown man now.”
Terry Goins, cared for Jackie’s car – “She was a fine lady, and I’m gonna miss her. I knew her real well and did a lot of work for her, especially back in the day. She’d had her Lincoln for at least 20 years and loved that car. She could have a brand new car, any car, but she just loved that Lincoln. She’d say, “do the best you can with it,” and I’d clean it up. She was always so pleasant and nice. I have so much respect for her and her family.”
Tim Childress, friend, almost family – “My wife Kathy was sick with cancer, and she worked here a couple of days a week helping Jackie. Jackie heard that Kathy needed a recliner, and I hadn’t said a thing. I’m leaving work here one evening, and Jackie hands me $300 and tells me to go to Big Lots and get Kathy a recliner. That’s just how she was. I was working up at the Ball Farm and asked Bill and Jackie if I could take a break and go home and help Kathy from the recliner to the bed, and they said yes. When I came back, they asked me if Kathy could use a lift chair, and I said I’d ask. I told them the next day that Kathy said a lift chair would help, and that’s all that was said. About 8:00 o’clock the next night, Jackie calls and says she’ll be right here. Here came Bill, Jackie and Billy with a lift chair and sat it in the house. That’s just the way she was and how they are. She did so much for me, they all have.”
Rob Christian, brother – “She dropped me on my head. Right there on the concrete floor of our dad’s workshop is where I landed. She was seven years old, and I was an infant. Jackie’s the one who also gave me my nickname, Robin, because she said I held my lips like a little bird. Robin was later shortened to Rob. We were really close, and she was a really good person; very loving, caring person. She was always there for me, and we’ll really miss her.”
The family receives friends on Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 4pm until 7pm, at Lake City Church of Christ at 2817 Highway 116 at Caryville) with funeral services beginning at 7pm. Family and friends meet on Friday, May 31, 2024, 9:30am, at Walters Funeral Home and proceed to Campbell Memorial Gardens for 10am Graveside Services and Interment. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/30/2024-6AM)