Gerald L. (Jerry) Ball
BALL Gerald L. (Jerry) Ball, 64, of Vancleave, passed away at home and went to be with his Lord and Savior on November 2, 2012. Jerry graduated from Bay County High School in Panama City, FL and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg with a Masters in Music Education. Jerry served a tour of duty in the US Navy during the Vietnam War and graduated from the Navy School of Music. Jerry was a highly respected band director in the Pascagoula School District for 25 years. As an educator, Jerry received numerous honors and awards, including MS Band Director of the Year, GCBDA Hall of Fame, and the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor Award. He was a longstanding member of MS Bandmasters Association Phi Beta Mu fraternity, serving a term as President. He has been the clinician and guest jazz soloist at many college and high school jazz clinics across the southern region. Jerry has been a well-known professional musician on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for 40 years, recorded four Christian music CDs, and has performed at numerous jazz festivals, weddings, receptions, churches and events. He has been a member of the Tuscaloosa Horns since 1984 performing with many big name artists across the country. Since retirement Jerry continued teaching instrumental music privately, played concerts in numerous churches across Alabama and Mississippi, and organized and directed the 32 member orchestra at his home church, First Baptist of Vancleave. Jerry was an avid fisherman, hunter, golfer and woodcarver. He truly enjoyed all the time he could spend with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and students and will be remembered by many as a kind and compassionate man, with a loving and giving spirit.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Frances Ball of Panama City, FL; grandparents, Roy and Lola Ball of Burgaw, NC and George and Etta Fawcett of Clarinda, IA.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 42 years, Mary Jane; two daughters, Jennifer and husband, David Baggett of Ocean Springs and Kim and husband, Danny Joyner of Meridian; five grandchildren, Janey, Will, Kaytelin and Bishop Baggett and Gracie Joyner; two sisters, Gwen and husband, Peter Jacobsen of Yountville, CA and Janet and husband, Gary Johnson of Niceville, FL; two brothers, Roger and wife, Ethel Ball of Tallahassee, FL and Randall Ball of Panama City, FL and numerous nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church Vancleave. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Vancleave. A private military graveside for family members will be conducted by the Veterans Administration at the Biloxi National Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Jerry's memory make a donation to the First Baptist Church Vancleave Orchestra or Gideons International. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Vancleave is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Mississippi Press from November 3 to November 4, 2012
BALL Gerald L. (Jerry) Ball, 64, of Vancleave, passed away at home and went to be with his Lord and Savior on November 2, 2012. Jerry graduated from Bay County High School in Panama City, FL and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg with a Masters in Music Education. Jerry served a tour of duty in the US Navy during the Vietnam War and graduated from the Navy School of Music. Jerry was a highly respected band director in the Pascagoula School District for 25 years. As an educator, Jerry received numerous honors and awards, including MS Band Director of the Year, GCBDA Hall of Fame, and the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor Award. He was a longstanding member of MS Bandmasters Association Phi Beta Mu fraternity, serving a term as President. He has been the clinician and guest jazz soloist at many college and high school jazz clinics across the southern region. Jerry has been a well-known professional musician on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for 40 years, recorded four Christian music CDs, and has performed at numerous jazz festivals, weddings, receptions, churches and events. He has been a member of the Tuscaloosa Horns since 1984 performing with many big name artists across the country. Since retirement Jerry continued teaching instrumental music privately, played concerts in numerous churches across Alabama and Mississippi, and organized and directed the 32 member orchestra at his home church, First Baptist of Vancleave. Jerry was an avid fisherman, hunter, golfer and woodcarver. He truly enjoyed all the time he could spend with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and students and will be remembered by many as a kind and compassionate man, with a loving and giving spirit.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Frances Ball of Panama City, FL; grandparents, Roy and Lola Ball of Burgaw, NC and George and Etta Fawcett of Clarinda, IA.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 42 years, Mary Jane; two daughters, Jennifer and husband, David Baggett of Ocean Springs and Kim and husband, Danny Joyner of Meridian; five grandchildren, Janey, Will, Kaytelin and Bishop Baggett and Gracie Joyner; two sisters, Gwen and husband, Peter Jacobsen of Yountville, CA and Janet and husband, Gary Johnson of Niceville, FL; two brothers, Roger and wife, Ethel Ball of Tallahassee, FL and Randall Ball of Panama City, FL and numerous nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church Vancleave. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Vancleave. A private military graveside for family members will be conducted by the Veterans Administration at the Biloxi National Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Jerry's memory make a donation to the First Baptist Church Vancleave Orchestra or Gideons International. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Vancleave is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Mississippi Press from November 3 to November 4, 2012
Gerald L. (Jerry) Ball
BALL Gerald L. (Jerry) Ball, 64, of Vancleave, passed away at home and went to be with his Lord and Savior on November 2, 2012. Jerry graduated from Bay County High School in Panama City, FL and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg with a Masters in Music Education. Jerry served a tour of duty in the US Navy during the Vietnam War and graduated from the Navy School of Music. Jerry was a highly respected band director in the Pascagoula School District for 25 years. As an educator, Jerry received numerous honors and awards, including MS Band Director of the Year, GCBDA Hall of Fame, and the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor Award. He was a longstanding member of MS Bandmasters Association Phi Beta Mu fraternity, serving a term as President. He has been the clinician and guest jazz soloist at many college and high school jazz clinics across the southern region. Jerry has been a well-known professional musician on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for 40 years, recorded four Christian music CDs, and has performed at numerous jazz festivals, weddings, receptions, churches and events. He has been a member of the Tuscaloosa Horns since 1984 performing with many big name artists across the country. Since retirement Jerry continued teaching instrumental music privately, played concerts in numerous churches across Alabama and Mississippi, and organized and directed the 32 member orchestra at his home church, First Baptist of Vancleave. Jerry was an avid fisherman, hunter, golfer and woodcarver. He truly enjoyed all the time he could spend with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and students and will be remembered by many as a kind and compassionate man, with a loving and giving spirit.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Frances Ball of Panama City, FL; grandparents, Roy and Lola Ball of Burgaw, NC and George and Etta Fawcett of Clarinda, IA.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 42 years, Mary Jane; two daughters, Jennifer and husband, David Baggett of Ocean Springs and Kim and husband, Danny Joyner of Meridian; five grandchildren, Janey, Will, Kaytelin and Bishop Baggett and Gracie Joyner; two sisters, Gwen and husband, Peter Jacobsen of Yountville, CA and Janet and husband, Gary Johnson of Niceville, FL; two brothers, Roger and wife, Ethel Ball of Tallahassee, FL and Randall Ball of Panama City, FL and numerous nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church Vancleave. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Vancleave. A private military graveside for family members will be conducted by the Veterans Administration at the Biloxi National Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Jerry's memory make a donation to the First Baptist Church Vancleave Orchestra or Gideons International. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Vancleave is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Mississippi Press from November 3 to November 4, 2012
BALL Gerald L. (Jerry) Ball, 64, of Vancleave, passed away at home and went to be with his Lord and Savior on November 2, 2012. Jerry graduated from Bay County High School in Panama City, FL and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg with a Masters in Music Education. Jerry served a tour of duty in the US Navy during the Vietnam War and graduated from the Navy School of Music. Jerry was a highly respected band director in the Pascagoula School District for 25 years. As an educator, Jerry received numerous honors and awards, including MS Band Director of the Year, GCBDA Hall of Fame, and the prestigious John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor Award. He was a longstanding member of MS Bandmasters Association Phi Beta Mu fraternity, serving a term as President. He has been the clinician and guest jazz soloist at many college and high school jazz clinics across the southern region. Jerry has been a well-known professional musician on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for 40 years, recorded four Christian music CDs, and has performed at numerous jazz festivals, weddings, receptions, churches and events. He has been a member of the Tuscaloosa Horns since 1984 performing with many big name artists across the country. Since retirement Jerry continued teaching instrumental music privately, played concerts in numerous churches across Alabama and Mississippi, and organized and directed the 32 member orchestra at his home church, First Baptist of Vancleave. Jerry was an avid fisherman, hunter, golfer and woodcarver. He truly enjoyed all the time he could spend with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and students and will be remembered by many as a kind and compassionate man, with a loving and giving spirit.
Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Frances Ball of Panama City, FL; grandparents, Roy and Lola Ball of Burgaw, NC and George and Etta Fawcett of Clarinda, IA.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 42 years, Mary Jane; two daughters, Jennifer and husband, David Baggett of Ocean Springs and Kim and husband, Danny Joyner of Meridian; five grandchildren, Janey, Will, Kaytelin and Bishop Baggett and Gracie Joyner; two sisters, Gwen and husband, Peter Jacobsen of Yountville, CA and Janet and husband, Gary Johnson of Niceville, FL; two brothers, Roger and wife, Ethel Ball of Tallahassee, FL and Randall Ball of Panama City, FL and numerous nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church Vancleave. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Vancleave. A private military graveside for family members will be conducted by the Veterans Administration at the Biloxi National Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Jerry's memory make a donation to the First Baptist Church Vancleave Orchestra or Gideons International. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Vancleave is in charge of arrangements.
Published in Mississippi Press from November 3 to November 4, 2012
