Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Ballard, Walter W., 1936 

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WALTER WOOD BALLARD

W.W. BALLARD SUCCUMBS TO HEART ATTACK, PIONEER SUFFOLK MERCHANT 
OPENED GENERAL MERCHANDISE IN 1880

   Suffolk, July 30 - Walter W. Ballard, 79, pioneer merchant of Suffolk, 
member of an old and prominent family and one of Suffolk’s leading citizens, 
died this morning at 10:20 o’clock at his home on North Main Street, of a 
heart attack, after an illness of an hour.

   Mr. Ballard was the son of Robert Ballard and Louise Virginia Parker, both 
of Nansemond County.

   Surviving him are his wife, Mrs. Annie Norfleet Ballard; a daughter, Mrs. 
John E. Wirkley, of Oberlin, Ohio; a granddaughter, Mrs. Rolph Wolf, of 
Kalamazoo, Mich.; two grandsons, John E. Wirkler, Jr., and Richard Wirkley, 
of Oberlin, Ohio, and four great-grandchildren.  He nearest of kin in Suffolk 
were Mr. and Mrs. Otis S. Smith, Sr.

   Mr. Ballard, who spent his long and useful life in Suffolk and Nansemond 
County, was one of the firm of Ballard & Smith, which opened a general 
merchandising store here in October, 1880.

   This store, the leading general mercantile business for many years was the 
forerunner of the Ballard & Smith Department Store, in which Mr. Ballard with 
Otis S. Smith, Sr., were partners for 51 years.  Mr. Ballard retired from 
active business four years ago.

   With his partner, he set a pace for the highest type of merchandising.  He 
was one of the oldest members in point of years of membership, of the Suffolk 
Christian Church, having held membership in this church for more than 60 years.

   Possessed of a fine tenor voice, he had aided in church worship for many 
years in the Christian Church choir, and later in the choir of the Suffolk 
Presbyterian Church, giving freely of his time and service.

   No family was to poor and obscure to receive his help in times of trouble 
and distress.

   His charities performed without ostentation, were widespread, and scores of 
homes were helped by his quiet gifts of food, comforts and financial aid.

   Arrangements for the funeral are incomplete.

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BALLARD RITES THIS AFTERNOON

SUFFOLK MERCHANT WROTE FUNERAL DIRECTIONS DAY BEFORE DEATH

   Suffolk, July 31 - Funeral services for Walter W. Ballard, merchant and 
prominent resident of Suffolk, who died suddenly yesterday morning at his home 
on North Main Street, will be conducted tomorrow afternoon at 4 o’clock at 
Suffolk Christian Church, by the pastor, the Rev. Dr. John G. Truitt, assisted 
by the Rev. Carl B. Craig, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Dr. 
I.W. Johnson, pastor of County Christian churches, and the Rev. Dr. H.J. 
Goodwin, pastor of the First Baptist Church.

   Active pallbearers will be James E. Babb, Jr., Arthur Herrick, Richard L. 
Woodward, W.V. Leathers, H.H. Powell, and Richard Kleges.

   Friends of the family have been asked to serve as honorary pallbearers. 
The body will be taken tomorrow morning to the Christian church, to lie in 
state until just before the funeral hour.

   A note, written July 29, a day before his death, was found this morning in 
the pages of Mr. Ballard’s Bible, which he had been reading on the night prior 
to his death.

   Some premonition of the impending event must have prompted the note, which 
said in part: "When death comes and my body is prepared, take it to the 
Christian Church, where my friends may call if they desire.  I have many 
colored friends, and would ask that all of them who would care to call at the 
church may have the privilege of doing so.

   "I hope to have the four ministers with whom I have worked, Dr. Truitt, the 
Rev. Mr. Craig, Dr. I.W. Johnson and Dr. H.J. Goodwin."

   The hymns to be sung were named, as well as the singers and organist.  A 
list also was given of persons to be selected as pallbearers.  All these 
directions have been carried out.

   The store of Ballard and Smith in which Mr. Ballard held partnership for 51 
years, will be closed during the hour of the funeral.


Walter Wood BALLARD, retired merchant, 
d. 30 Jul 1936, at home, Suffolk, age 79, 
interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block I, Lot 55*), Suffolk, 1 Aug 1936, 
"The Suffolk (VA) News Herald," dateline July 30 & 31, 1936 

*Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society 
   {SCHS} Cemetery Project: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_a.txt 

His widow's obit ("Virginian-Pilot," Sep. 1, 1948) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/b463a1ob.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/b463w2ob.txt