Family/Spouse: RACKLEY, Unknown. Unknown was born about 1914. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Charles Perry Ball

Longtime Starkville farm equipment dealer Charles Perry Ball, 86, died Thursday, January 15, 2004, at Oktibbeha County Hospital. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Batesville Magnolia Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Welch Funeral Home.

In 1965, Mr. Ball and his family moved to Starkville where he operated the Ford tractor and New Holland equipment dealership on Mississippi Highway 12 as Starkville Tractor and Equipment Co., until retirement in 1997. A member of Future Farmers of America, he was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Mississippi conference in 1987 for his support of the organization and its membership.

He was a Mason and was honored with the 50-year pin. Mr. Ball was a member of Starkville Baptist Church, where he had served as a deacon. He had served in a similar capacity in other churches where he was a member before moving to Starkville.

He was active in community affairs, having been a member of several civic groups and the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Ball was in a leadership position in Chamber community improvement and beautification efforts numerous times during the 1970s. He also helped Chamber efforts to improve transportation links to and inside the city.

Mr. Ball was the first Republican to win election to Starkville municipal government where he was elected alderman at-large in 1973. Board members then selected him as Vice Mayor of the city. He was also an executive committee member and Director of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District.

He was active in national and state politics, having served in local campaign positions for many candidates and on the Starkville and Oktibbeha County Republican Executive Committee. Mr. Ball was a member of the Republicans delegation from Mississippi to the GOP national convention that nominated President Gerald R. Ford over Ronald Reagan.

He was also worked with local, regional and state officials to secure training and equipment programs for health care professionals and emergency responders.

Before coming to Starkville in 1965, Mr. Ball was in national sales for two heavy equipment companies and had lived in Houston, Texas, New Orleans, LA, Memphis, Tenn., Lubbock, Texas, and Dallas, Texas. In the early 1950s, he owned and operated a cafe/gas station in Houston, MS with his wife, the late Juanita Jones Ball. During his days in Houston, he was most proud of his work with community and government leaders to improve the appearance of the Chickasaw County Courthouse Square.

During World War II, he worked in the Consolidated Aircraft installation in New Orleans during the day and was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve doing shore patrol at night. Prior to World War II, he was involved in heavy construction and had worked on the Enid and Sardis dams in North Mississippi. Mr. Ball also worked on railroad construction and rehabilitation projects in Mississippi and the Mid-West.

Mr. Ball was a 1938 graduate of Pontotoc (Miss.) High School.

Mr. Ball is survived by two sons, Dr. William David Ball of Boone, NC and Tom Ball of Starkville; three sisters, Mary B. Rackley of Starkville, Amy Lou Brasfield of Granite City, Ill, and Nell Finne of Gulfport; sisters-in-law, Modean Ball of Memphis, Paulette B. Reece of Pontotoc, and Elizabeth Ball of Waco, Texas; two brothers, Lawrence Ball of Irving, Texas and Howard Ball of Pontotoc; three grandchildren, Bill Ball of Jackson, Charles Perry Ball, III, and Betsy Moon Ball, both of Starkville; and one great-grandchild, Conner Beth Ball of Jackson.

Memorials may be made to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Scholarship Program at Mississippi State University Foundation, First Baptist Church Lottie Moon Mission Fund or the SOAR Foundation at the Greater Starkville Partnership.

Rev. Clifton Curtis will conduct services.

Welch Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

You can go online and sign the register book at: www.welchfuneralhome.com.

Laurel married STANFORD, Mary about 1914. Mary was born on 24 Jul 1896 in Mississippi, USA; died on 14 Jun 1969; was buried in Pontotoc, Pontotoc County, Mississippi, United States of America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Laurel married PERRY, Hannah Elizabeth on 14 Jun 1883 in Leake, Mississippi, USA. Hannah was born on 2 Mar 1856 in Mississippi, USA; died on 10 Dec 1938; was buried in Remus, Leake, Mississippi, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Mars Hill Cemetery