Margaret L. Ballard

Margaret L. Ballard was born on October 31, 1932 in Golden Hill, on Maryland's eastern shore. She was the second of three daughters born to Edgar and Martina Waters Keene. The family migrated to West Baltimore. Education: Her early schooling was at Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School #110, studying general subjects, but with an apparent for literacy. Her recall of poems with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. All were amazed at her recall of the poem "How the Leaves Came Down", even thought her teacher never gave students a printed copy. She attended P.S. #110 until she was 10 years old, leaving to fulfill family needs after her mother's death. As an adult, while raising a family, Margaret pursued studies to complete high school and earned a General Education Degree. Marriage: Arabbers and other street vendors visited her west Baltimore community. One such "entrepreneur" was a lanky, very handsome youth named Floyd C. Ballard. As he helped the vendors, he just happened to notice a beautiful girl living at 256 N. Arlington Avenue. Too shy to answer the door for him when he knocked to see if her family needed ice, she would run up the second floor of the row home, open the window and shout down to him, "Not none today!" Then she slammed the window. They dated for about two years (walking to neighborhood parks); he proposed the second week in June, 1948 and they married on June 21st. It's a Family Affair: Floyd, Sr. and Margaret raised ten children: Margaret, Linda, Ruth, Floyd Jr., Michelle, Michael, Lisa, David, Keith and KIm. That's correct, 12 people in a row house with one bathroom. Imagine that! Community: Margaret didn't just talk about community involvement, she personified it. She was a Den Mother, volunteered at the Community Action Agency Center in the 900 block of west Fayette Street; served as a conscientious election poll judge; was a member of Parent Teacher Associations at more schools than most parents, supported Afro Clean Block campaigns and was a "Neighborhood Mom" to every child/adult who knew her. Arts, Crafts and Other Skills: Margaret had so many talents! She had a beautiful voice and sang like an angel. Margaret was a seamstress (making her children's clothes and teaching them to sew; she also made chair covers and draperies), took cooking classes to enhance her craft; however, she was always the gourmet chef of the Ballard family-her baked sheet cakes were always the highlight of family gatherings. Even if others' cakes tasted good, she took the credit because it was her recipe. Margaret created excellent crafts by crocheting, an artist through coloring and painting by number. Her children recall her practicing penmanship by repeatedly writing "Sure I would like to improve my handwriting" and encouraging them to do the same. Proud Legacy: Margaret was preceded in death by two sons, Michael Sr. and David Sr., and one daughter, Ruth. She leaves to cherish her memory: her loving husband of 67 years- Floyd Collins Ballard, Sr., two sisters-Martha Squirewell and Ruth Faulcon; five daughters-Margaret, Linda, Michelle, Lisa (Gerald) and Kim; two sons-Floyd Jr., and Keith; 19 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; one cousin; and a host of nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.

Tributes

Margaret L. Ballard

October 31, 1932 - February 18, 2017