James. E. Ballance, Jr.

Franklin – James Elmer Ballance, Jr., 76, passed away December 12, 2021 in Sentara Obici Hospital.   Born in Kenley, NC, he was a son of the late James E. Ballance and Gladys Cockrell Ballance .

James was a 1964 graduate of Kenly High School in Kenley, NC and a welding supervisor for Newport News Shipyard.  He loved the outdoors and fishing above all things.

Left to cherish his memory is two daughters, Denise Ballance of Myrtle Beach, SC and Amy Walker and her husband Timothy of Newport News, VA; a son, James Timothy Ballance of Newport News; a sister, Geraldine "Tootsie" Woodard of Newport News; two grandchildren, Sarah and Hunter Walker; a niece and nephew, Wendy and Andy Woodard of Newport News; and a 1 ^st cousin and his life-long best friend and "brother", Joseph Batten and his wife Brenda and their children Jeff Batten and Beth Oaks all of Carrollton, VA.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2 PM Friday, December 17, 2021 in Wright Funeral Home with Rev. Dale Coffey officiating.  Burial will follow at Mount Horeb Cemetery.  The family will receive friends in the funeral home one hour prior to the service and suggests that in order to honor James, spend a day driving down some back roads with the windows down and your hand in the breeze.  Stop at a good fishing hole and catch some dinner and if fish is not to your liking, order a pizza and finish it off with a big bowl of strawberry ice cream.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org