Marilyn Ann Breland Ballance, 71, of Erwin, Tenn., passed away on Monday, September 1, 2014, at Johnson City Medical Center following a brief illness.
She was a daughter of the late Willis Francis Breland Sr. and Myrtle Anna Dahmer Breland and was born in New Orleans, La. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Willis Francis Breland Jr., and a daughter-in-law, Laura Eileen Buchanan Ballance.
Mrs. Ballance was a homemaker and a member of Rivers Edge Fellowship in Elizabethton, Tenn.
Mrs. Ballance worked as a bookkeeper for many years in a family business, Beacon Enterprise in New Orleans. Her greatest joy in life was her family including her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was known as a mother to all and loved everyone with an open heart without expecting anything in return.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Bobby Ballance, of the home; three children, Marilyn Ann Ballance Stockfelt and husband, Alvin, Erwin, Tenn., Bobbie Jean “Jeannie” Ballance Jones and husband, Ricky, Elizabethton, Tenn., and George Theodore “G.T.” Ballance Sr., Knoxville; seven grandchildren, Joshua Stockfelt and wife, Amy, Jeannie Stockfelt, Ricky Jones Jr. and wife, Jill, G.T. Ballance Jr., Jacob Stockfelt, Jathaniel Stockfelt and Troy Jones; and four great-grandchildren, Jayla Stockfelt, Alyssa Stockfelt, Hudson Stockfelt and Asher Jones.
The celebration of life service for Mrs. Balance will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 4, at Rivers Edge Fellowship with Pastor Ricky Jones officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., prior to the service at the church. The graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 6, at Lake Lawn – Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, La. For those attending services in Tennessee, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rivers Edge Fellowship, 1200 19E Bypass, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Ballance family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.