Martha "Rosalyn" Ballard

Martha "Rosalyn" Ballard, 91, of Little Rock, Arkansas, joined her heavenly Father on October 12, 2010. She was born October 7, 1919, in Dumas, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, William I. and Inez Meador Fish; her husband of 64 years, Wayman Ballard; and two brothers, Rodney Fish of Dumas and Roy Fish of Junction City. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughters, Mary Lynn Steelman and husband Mike of Bryant, Arkansas, and Nancy Howell and husband John of Miami, Florida; sister, Rosalea Green of Hot Springs; sister-in-law, Audrey Borecky of Pine Bluff; grandchildren, Michael Steelman (Charlette), Amanda Sostrin (Mike), Denise Davis (Keith), Jonathan Howell, Joseph Howell (Lindsay), Rachael Burgin (Stephen); great-grandchildren, Mackenzie, Paige, and Garrett Steelman, Blake and Abby Sostrin, Kaetlyn and Kyla Davis, Riley Howell, and Leah Burgin; and many nieces and nephews. Rosalyn grew up in Dumas, Arkansas. She and her twin sister, Rosalea, had the distinction of being the first twins born in Dumas. She was a good student, serving as valedictorian of the senior class at Dumas High School. While in high school, she played basketball and participated in singing competitions with her sister and a cousin. She graduated from Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, where she majored in English and music (voice). While in college, Rosalyn and Rosalea were chosen to represent Arkansas at a twin convention in Waco, Texas. Competing with over a hundred sets of twins, they were named the most identical. After graduation, she taught school in Keiser, Arkansas, where she was reintroduced to her future husband, Wayman Ballard. They married on August 16, 1942, and accepted teaching jobs at Luxora, Arkansas. However, she only taught for a semester, as Wayman was called into military service. Following the war, she and Wayman made their home in Little Rock. She belonged to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, where she and Wayman were members of the Butler Sunday School Class, the Sanctuary Choir, and The Energizers. Throughout the remainder of her lifetime, she served as a sweet and loving mother to her children and worked with Wayman in his insurance business. Her favorite pastimes were gardening, playing bridge, and eating Mexican food. Rosalyn will be remembered as a kind and gentle soul. A friend of hers once remarked that she had never heard her say an unkind word about anyone. She loved her family and treasured the times they could all be together. The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Quapaw Care and Rehab in Hot Springs and to Odyssey Hospice for their compassionate care of Rosalyn. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, October 15, 2010, at Griffin Leggett Forest Hills Funeral Home, 10200 Hwy. 5 North, Alexander (501-455-1067). Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 16, 2010, at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Ave, Little Rock, Ark. 72205. Burial will follow at Forest Hills Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Michael Steelman, Joseph Howell, Jonathan Howell, Mike Sostrin, Keith Davis and Stephen Burgin. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Pulaski Heights United Methodist Foundation in the name of the Wayman and Rosalyn Ballard Music Endowment. To sign the online guest book, visit www.griffinleggettforesthills.com.