Hellen Juanita Newton Lucas Ballard
Born May 22, 1938 in Chilton, Alabama, Nita passed away in Mobile, Alabama on May 31, 2023 shortly after her eighty-fifth birthday. Nita grew up in Marengo County, Alabama, was baptized at Nicholsville Baptist Church and later graduated from Vigor High School in Mobile County in 1956. A longtime Axis resident, Nita was an accomplished chemical technician at multiple north Mobile County chemical plants.
Nita was predeceased in death by her husband Orvie Ray Lucas and her second husband Robert Don Ballard. She is survived by her sisters Mary Newton Lewis and Ellen Newton Runco and, her beloved nieces that she fondly called “my girls”, Lynn Lewis Helton (Ken), Kathryn Runco Miller (Doug) and Leslie Runco Meek (Michael). Though she never had children of her own, Nita was fiercely devoted to her many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Nita was an animal lover and raised, fostered or loved more varieties than most of us will ever have the privilege to experience. Coati Mundis, foxes and raccoons were her some of her favorites. Nita was kind, funny, loving and would move heaven and earth for those that needed. She will be missed.In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Nita’s love of all animals by making a donation to The Wild Animal Sanctuary at their website: wildanimalsanctuary.org and add “In memory
Of Nita Ballard” in the special instructions field.
May 22, 1938 — May 31, 2023
A graveside service for family and close friends will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 10:00 am Mobile Memorial Gardens.
