Carlese Kilby “Toy” Ballard, 98, of 704 Pitchkettle Road, was born on Jan. 20, 1915, and departed this life on Dec. 5, 2013.

She was the daughter of the late James and Mary Jane Ballard. She was predeceased by her siblings, Evora Ballard Spruill, Flossie Ballard Nichols and Virtley Ballard Jones, as well as her niece, Mary Eva B. Vincent, and nephews, Arthur Ballard and Allen Brent Jones. Carlese attended Little Mount Zion and Nansemond County public schools.

For a number of years, she worked for the Star Band Company in Portsmouth. Until her health failed, she was a faithful member of St. Paul Baptist Church in the Boston area of Suffolk, where she was the oldest member. There, she was founder and an active member of several ministries, including the Ladies Aid, Willing Workers and Missionaries. She also sang in the Gospel, Senior and Mass choirs.

She leaves to cherish her memory nieces, Dorothy L. Robinson, of Pennsylvania, Nancy L. Jones, Audrey C. Backus, Ruth A. Deloatch, Brenda F. Boone and Judith M. Shoulders, all of Suffolk, Juanita D. Adams, of Washington, D.C., and a nephew, Dennis A. Ballard, of Maryland. She also leaves a goddaughter, Sharon J. Artis, a host of great- and great-great-nieces and -nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, at St. Paul Baptist Church with Bishop C.V. Russell III eulogizing. The interment will be at King’s Fork Cemetery.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Crocker Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at 507 Pitchkettle Road. Crocker Funeral Home is providing arrangements. All condolences may be extended to the family via www.crockerfuneralhome.com.