James Kerr Ballard

James “Kerr" Ballard was a gift from God sent to Wes and Lori Ballard on March 29, 2010. Kerr had a larger-than-life personality and an old soul. This unique combination manifested in friendships of all ages. It’s also fair to mention that he never met a stranger and enjoyed conversing with everyone. He packed more life experiences into eleven years than most pack into fifty years. He also packed as many pancakes on his morning breakfast plate as his mom would let him get away with, which is how he became known as the pancake eating machine. Kerr was his mom’s dream and his dad’s best friend. Kerr had a tremendous belief in God and was not afraid to share God’s message. He was a confident disciple in the Lord and it was his goal to lead everyone he met to Jesus. During COVID-19 when churches were asked not to hold Sunday service in-person, Kerr took it upon himself to deliver online messages from his mom’s Facebook page. Kerr loved and cherished his entire family and was the quintessential big brother to his adoring sister Ruby. One of his favorite activities was going to Rutledge where he could always negotiate a fine deal. A most noteworthy deal was one he made for his sister Ruby’s Christmas gift, a very special rock. His many cousins were like siblings. He loved to be doing any activity indoor or outdoor with his cousins and friends. In fact, one of his favorite activities was playing Fortnight into the wee hours with his cousin. Kerr also loved to travel. He enjoyed daytrips to The Ranch, weekend trips to Lake of the Ozarks and family trips to Dauphin Island and Captiva Island. He had a thing for water, sand, sun and a ton of fun. As much as he loved to play he also loved to work. Kerr could often be found assisting his dad in the machine shop on their family farm, a place he loved immeasurably. He was his dad’s best friend and tinkering together was their favorite. He was also known to work on broken-down equipment at Ballard Brothers Concrete or work as his Papa Randy’s second-hand-man for any project--large or small. Kerr considered himself part of Roger Strang’s auctioneer team and looked forward to receiving his Christmas bonus in the mail sent from Roger each year. Many pillars of strength both on earth and in heaven have helped bolster the family during this time. The family has been surrounded by Kerr’s Paternal Grandparents Jim and Lyn Anne Ballard and Maternal Grandparents Randy and Rhonda Wahl. Paternal Great Grandmother Dolores Harp and Maternal Great Grandparents Don and Shelby Pence. The Manchester Baptist Church family (where Kerr was a member) and many other church families in the surrounding area. An amazing group of friends, school and community members have all celebrated Kerr. We are grateful that he was welcomed to heaven by the loved ones that proceeded him in death; Paternal Great Grandfather Merle Harp, Paternal Grandparents Jack and Elizabeth Ballard, Maternal Great Grandparents Jesse and Anna Pence, Clarence and Eileen Shepherd and Velma and Percy Wahl and a Maternal Cousin Oakley Cooper. Most importantly the family wants to express that there truly is no way to organize enough words on paper to adequately reflect the life of Kerr, the most amazing young man. Wes and Lori are simply humbled to have been chosen as his parents; and while they’re utterly broken they’re grateful that he returned to be with his Savior on July 13, 2021. A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 18, 2021, at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Winchester with interment in Manchester City Cemetery. A visitation will be held 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Saturday, July 17, 2021, at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Kerr Ballard Memorial Fund.

James Kerr Ballard

March 29, 2010 - July 13, 2021