Willie Joe Ballard
, Nebraska
Willie Joe Ballard Joe was born Willie Joe Ford on April 16 1942 in Topeka Kansas the fourth child of eight of William Ford and Evelyn Ford nee Stamps. She is preceded in death by her husband Julius Ballard her parents and five of her siblings feisty sister Jean sporty Maxine bookish Salatha big brother Raymond and baby sister Geraldine. Living in a house bursting with love and faith Joe was an anchor for her siblings and a support to her mother. Joe attended St. Benedict School and Omaha Central High School. At Central Joe met a young man who was working at a construction site across the street from the school. Julius Ballard was one of the Mississippi boys new arrivals to Omaha who traveled from Shuqualak Mississippi to work and help build up the city and their lives in Nebraska. Greeted on her walks to school by this…
