January 12, 2024, 92, Fremont —

A memorial service to celebrate the life of William A. Ballance, Sr. will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in the sanctuary of Fremont Missionary Baptist Church in Fremont. The family will greet friends immediately following the service in the sanctuary.  The service may be watched on Facebook live by going to Fremont Missionary Baptist Church.

The gentle spirit of William A. Ballance, Sr., 92, peacefully departed a life well lived and ascended into the eternal presence of His loving Savior, on Friday, January 12, 2024, while surrounded by his family at his home in Fremont. Billy was born in Wilson County to the late Alton Brooks Ballance and Estelle Aycock Ballance on December 23, 1931. In addition to his parents, Billy was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Edna Edmundson Ballance; son, Timothy Ballance; granddaughter, Whitney Ballance; and brother, Jimmy Ballance.

Billy was an educator, farmer, and an overall trusted friend. He served Wayne County Public Schools for 31 years as a teacher in the Agricultural Program. He began his career at Fremont School and later taught at C.B. Aycock High School, Norwayne Middle School, Eastern Wayne Middle School, and retiring from Eastern Wayne High School. He made a difference in the lives of many of his students through agriculture and the preservation of God’s creation.

Farming was in his blood and for many years he served bi-vocationally, working as both a teacher and a farmer as he tended the family farm in Fremont. He loved the land and the bounty it would produce. Even when he was no longer farming, Billy would continue to go out on his beloved tractor to cultivate the land. He also enjoyed the opportunity to share from the abundance of his garden with others. With his many years of dedicated and faithful service in agriculture, Billy was honored in 2023 as the newest member of the Wayne County Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Billy was quite the “historian extraordinaire” and will be remembered by many for his ability to recall almost anything from years gone by. He was also known for his ability to be able to repair almost anything. Billy was always hands-on and very mechanically minded. When others thought something was coming to the end of its usefulness, he would find a purpose in its restoration.

Family and faith were most important to Billy. He was a faithful and dedicated member of Fremont Missionary Baptist Church. He loved the Lord with all his heart and sought to follow Him through devoted service. As a member of the church, he served as a deacon, director of the Sunday School, choir member, and many other committees as needed. Recently the church honored him for his many years of faithful service and for living a life that provides a light for generations to come.

Billy exemplified unconditional love for his family. Time spent with his grandchildren brought him much joy. His family will remember him as an outstanding husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle.

Billy is survived by his daughters, Sylvia Ballance of Fremont and Ellen Ballance Barnes and husband, Ray of Clemmons; son, Dr. William “Bill” Ballance, Jr. and wife, Lisa of Greenville; daughter-in-law, Kay Sullivan Ballance of Goldsboro; grandchildren, Allison Ballance of Belmont, Will Ballance of Greenville, Dane Barnes of Raleigh, Scott Barnes of Raleigh, Adam Ballance and wife, Emily of Raleigh, and Brandon Ballance and wife, Kathryn of Raleigh; and great-granddaughter, Annie Ballance, who always put a special sparkle in Billy’s heart. He is also survived by his sisters, Susan Sawyer and husband, Bob of Greensboro and Anne May of Greenville; nieces, Mary Jon Pabst of Greenville, Carole Lawson of Pilot Mountain, Joan Hinnant of Goldsboro and Eula L. Gray of LaGrange; and nephew, David Sawyer of Greenville

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to
Fremont Missionary Baptist Church
P.O. Box 906
Fremont, NC 27830

Services are entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.