Athel Ballew

Athel Virginia Calvert Ballew was blessed to live until the age of 92 in her own home in Birmingham, Alabama until she went to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 25, 2022. She was born March 20, 1930 in Brushy Pond, Alabama to Ethel and Herman Calvert. She grew up and attended school there and graduated from Cold Springs High School where she played on the basketball team. She married Billie Ballew on July 1, 1950 and had three children where they resided in the Roebuck/Huffman area. Athel worked in retail for most of her life in department stores and Kelly’s Hallmark. She was an active/charter member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church for the better part of her life. She had a love for beautiful things and kept an immaculate home for her family. She was a great cook, an accomplished seamstress, she loved to read and loved her plants. She enjoyed playing card games and dominos with her family and friends. She was a big University of Alabama and Atlanta Braves fan and enjoyed watching basketball, baseball and football on TV. She was a loving mother and grandmother in which she cared for her grandchildren daily in their early years and continued supporting them in all their activities as well as attended their events. She was known as Grandma and was beloved by her family. She is survived by son Terry Lee Ballew and wife Michelle Ditizio Ballew, daughter Amy Lea Ballew Moller and husband Johann G. Moller. Five grandchildren, Jenna Marie Bazzell and spouse Margaux Marissa Griffith, Elizabeth Alicia  Ballew, Amanda Lee Ballew Duffey and husband Christopher McEwen Duffey, Emily Anita Ballew, Erika Katelyn Moller Watson and husband Michael Robert Watson, Zachary Johann Moller and fiancé Erica Leigh Melville and two great-grandchildren Brayden McEwen Duffey and Laura Leigh Ann Moller and countless loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Billie Lee Ballew and daughter Pamela Diane Ballew Bazzell and her parents and ten siblings. The service to honor this beautiful woman will be held at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens, 1591 Gadsden Highway, Birmingham, Alabama at 12 Noon on Thursday September 1, 2022, with visitation preceding at 11 a.m.   The burial will follow immediately at Ryan's Creek Baptist Church Cemetery 24849 County Road 222, Bremen, Alabama 35033.