In last week’s column the lineage of Evans Coleman Ballard was covered from the earliest of his ancestors who have been identified to his children. In this writing, his children’s families including that of Dr. Benjamin Randall Ballard will be featured.

Evans Coleman’s oldest son, Thomas Jefferson Ballard (1867-1912), was born in Crenshaw County. He was married to Sarah Alice Ganey, daughter of Noel Joshua and Parmilia Amanda (Compton) Ganey. They began their marriage and family in Crenshaw County, but after some years, they moved to Coffee County where they lived out their lives. Thomas Jefferson was only 45 years of age when he died in 1912. He left a widow with several young children still living at home. Thomas Jefferson and Sarah Alice had the following 10 children: Omar Joe, b. 1885, d. 1965; Era Estelle, b. 1891, m. Jim Tidwell; Fletcher Lee, b. 1894, m. Jessie Medlock; Guy Ganey, b. 1899, m. Willie Brooms; Chalmers Parks, b. 1900, d. 1975, m. Celia Missouri Davis; Lollie Alice, b. 1902, m. Obie Farris; Trudy Ethel, b. 1904, m. Fitzhugh Ellington; Cubye Foye, b. 1907, m. (1) E.C. Glover (2) Ray Maxie, Sr.; Thomas Jefferson Jr., b. 1908, d. before 2005, m. Bessie Farris; and Sara Cammie, b. 1911, m. Fred Johnson.

Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, Era Estelle, and husband, Jim Tidwell, reared three sons: Leon, b. ca 1908; Lloyd L., b. ca 1910; and Basil, b. ca 1916. His son, Fletcher Lee Ballard and wife, Jessie Medlock, had the following children: Randall; Codus L., b. ca 1916; Mettie Lou, b. ca 1918; Molly Bell, b. ca 1920; Ethel R., b. ca 1925; and Mildred L., b. ca 1929. His son, Guy Ganey Ballard, and wife, Willie Brooms, had three children: Sara Nell, b. ca 1925, m. ? Pierce; Robert Nix, b. ca 1929; and Guy Zell.

Thomas Jefferson’s next son, Chalmers Parks Ballard, was married to Celia Missouri Davis, daughter of Jeremiah Micajah and Annie Louise (Helms) Davis. They reared the following 10 children: Jerry Parks, b. 1919, d. 1994, m. Sarah Nell Reeves; Olene, b. 1921, d. 1922; Joel Houston, b. 1926, m. Elizabeth Elaine Wise; Voncile, b. 1929, d. 2001, m. (1) Max Edward Rhodes (2) G.D. Mack; Nellie Frances, b. 1931, d. 1936; Betty Ann, b. 1933, d. 2005, m. Walter Neil Staehnke; John Bradford, b. 1936, d. 1983, m. Ellen Jo Brookerson; James Wayland, b. 1938, m. (1) Joan Patterson (2) Carolyn Marler; Jane Marie, b. 1941; and Joseph Davis, b. 1944, m. Mary Jo Grissett.

Thomas Jefferson’s next daughter, Lollie Alice Ballard, and husband, Obie Farris, reared four children: Charles, Annie Mae, Cubye Nell and Raymond Lester. His next daughter, Trudy Ethel Ballard, and her husband, Fitzhugh Ellington, who was an area church of Christ minister, reared four sons: Hugh, Eugene, Robert and James. His next daughter, Cubye Foye Ballard, and first husband, E.C. Glover, had one daughter, Linda Glover. She and her second husband, Ray Maxie, Sr., had a son, Ray Maxie Jr.

Thomas Jefferson’s son, Thomas Jefferson Ballard Jr., and wife, Bessie Farris, reared the following three children: Riley, b. ca 1926; Ruby, m. R.V. Sexton (1923-2000); and Ethel. His youngest daughter, Sara Cammie Ballard, and husband, Fred Johnson, had two sons, Ben and Freddie.

Evans Coleman’s third son, Benjamin Randall Ballard (1871-1936), was encouraged no doubt by his uncle, Jonathan O. Ballard, a physician in Oakey Streak, and his father’s interest in medicine to pursue a career in that field. As a young man he enrolled in medical college at Nashville, Tennessee, where he completed his training and was graduated and licensed to practice medicine in 1894. Before moving back home, he was married to Tabitha Bronson Owens (1875-1956).

Dr. Benjamin Randall Ballard brought his bride to his parents’ home in Rutledge, Crenshaw County. After a brief stay there, they moved on March 22, 1894, to the small community of Alberton in Coffee County, which is just over the Covington County line. They sought temporary housing in the home of Mr. And Mrs. Green Page until they could build their own house, which was completed in 1902.

Dr. Randall Ballard is remembered as a most kind and generous person and physician. He often accepted farmers’ produce—hogs chickens, corn, etc.—when his patients did not have the cash money. He served initially by horseback, then horse and buggy, and finally by his first automobile, a Maxwell. To stay in touch with his patients, he had his own private telephone lines with an exchange in his house, which he maintained with the help of his employees. It has been said that he was so popular and delivered so many babies that many were named Randall or Ballard in honor of him. On July 10, 1936, after 40 years of “extraordinary” service to the people of the Alberton, Old Town and Perry’s Store communities, Dr. Ballard decided to retire from his medical practice.

Dr. Randall Ballard and his wife, Tabitha, had three children: Layman L., b. 1894, d. 1957, m. Effie French (1895-1975); Emitt W., b. ca 1898, and Mary Gladys, b. ca 1906. Layman and Effie, daughter of Angus Lafayette and Mary Frances (Vickers) French, reared three children: Evelyn, b. ca 1917; Sanie F., b. ca 1919; and Elizabeth L., b. 1927, d. 2003.

Evans Coleman’s son, Charlie Monroe Ballard, was married in 1898 to Lena Clementine Gregory. They reared the following eight children: Sherman, b. 1899; Raymond, b. 1902; Charlie Leon, b. 1904, d. 1940, m. Alice ?; Dollie, b. 1905, d. 1996, m. 1923 MarArthur Heath (1905-2001); Ila Mae, b. 1912; Crossie Ruffin, b. 1914; Allen, b. 1916, d. 1989; and Dempsey, b. 1918, d. 1987, m. 1938 Nancy E. Phillips.

Charlie Monroe’s son, Charlie Leon Ballard, and his wife, Alice, reared two children, Trulie, b. 1925; and Charles, b. 1929. His daughter, Dollie Ballard, and husband, MacArthur Heath, reared three children: Charles Lemuel, b. 1924, d. 1974; Lena Bell, b. 1926, d. 1999, m. R.B. Boswell; and Arthur Junior, b. 1931, d. 1983. His son, Dempsey Ballard, and his wife, Nancy E. Phillips, reared two sons, Wayne; and Phillip Ivan, b. 1939, m. Louellen Spurlock.

Evans Coleman’s son, George Columbus Ballard, and his wife, Mary Anna Raybon, were married in 1912. They reared the following children: Gracie, b. ca 1906, m. ? Black; Gady, b. ca 1910; Pell, b. ca 1910; Grover, b. ca 1913; and Iba, b. ca 1916, d. 1991. Gracie had one daughter, Eloise Black.

Evans Coleman’s youngest son, Jake Ballard, and his wife, Annie Mae Morgan, had one daughter, Ima Lavonia, m. ? Turner. Jake died in Mobile in 1959. Ima and her husband had one daughter, Annette Turner.

Members of the Evans Coleman Ballard family have additional genealogy on later generations if anyone is interested. The family records of Perry Ballard were the primary source for this writing.

Anyone who might have any correction to the above genealogy or additional information is requested to contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or e-mail: cthomasson@centurytel.net.