Helen Ballard's Obituary
Helen Ballard, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed
away peacefully after a lengthy illness on November 6, 2025.
She was born on September 9, 1929, in Cumberstone, Maryland, to the late Harriet and James Gant. Helen was educated in the Anne Arundel County Public School System and was a proud graduate of Wiley H. Bates High School, Class of 1947. In September 1949, she married the love of her life, the late Lawrence E Ballard, and together they built a life centered on family, faith, and community.
Helen dedicated over 40 years of service to Crownsville Hospital, where she worked diligently until her retirement in 1995. Her compassionate nature and strong work ethic touched many lives, both inside and outside the workplace.
A devoted member of Cecil Memorial United Methodist Church, Helen served faithfully on various boards and ministries throughout the years, Her dedication and love for her church family were recognized when she was honored as "Mother of the Year" in May 2015.
Helen will be remembered for her loving, warm, and humble spirit, She had a heart for helping others and welcomed everyone with open arms, She enjoyed cooking, shopping, word search puzzles, keeping a clean and welcoming home, and working on number combinations and mathematical calculations, her thoughtful and precise nature.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence E Ballard,· her parents, James and Harriet Gant; her sister, Alice Slocum; her nieces Carolyn Hall and Antoinette Slocum and her great-granddaughter, Kaelah Somerville.
Left to cherish her memory are her devoted daughters, Sylvia Duvall (Thomas) and Gail Ballard, both of Annapolis, MD; her grandchildren, Nicole Somerville (Robert) of Glen Burnie, MD; Michelle Duvall of Bowie, MD; Monica Duvall of Fayetteville, GA; and Eryka Cleveland of Annapolis, MD; great (Tamera), Collin McCullough, and Rosheka Somerville; and great grandchildren, Kheringtin King, Karmelo King, and Mariah Hargrave. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends who will deeply miss her presence and love.
Helen's file was a shining example of grace, kindness, and faith. Though she is no longer with us, her legacy of love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
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