Gerald Lamar Ballard, Sr.

Lamar Ballard, 86, of Brandon, Mississippi, passed away on October 11, 2025, in his home with his wife by his side.

Funeral services will be at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 2:00 pm, with visitation from 12:30 to 2:00 pm. He will be laid to rest in Sims Cemetery in Morton.

Born on February 23, 1939, in Choctaw County, Mississippi, Lamar was the son of Joe Ira Ballard and Irma Lee Taylor. He graduated from Central High School and went on to serve his country with honor in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960.

He later married Betsy Ross Lindsey, and together they built a family with two sons, Richard Anthony Ballard and Gerald Lamar Ballard Jr.

Lamar spent his career with Bellsouth Telecommunications, working from 1963 until his retirement in 2000.

He was baptized at Salem United Methodist Church on July 2, 2006, where he held his membership.

Lamar is survived by his two sons, Gerald Ballard (Carol Ann) and Richard Ballard (Carol); four grandchildren, Anthony (Holly), Katie (Jake), Trey (Taylor) and Will; and two great-grandchildren, Levi and Scarlett.