Services for Gerald A. Ball of Monticello are 11 a.m.,Wednesday, Feb. 11, at Monticello Baptist Church with burial in thechurch cemetery.

Visitation is Tuesday from 5-8 p.m., at Wilson Funeral Home.

Mr. Ball, 80, died Feb. 9, 2004, at Mississippi Baptist MedicalCenter in Jackson. He was born in Howison on March 8, 1923, toLeonard Daniel Ball and Mildred Rouse Ball.

He was former owner of Ball’s Clothing Store in Monticello from1968-1984, and he worked in management with Belk’s DepartmentStores/J.C. Penney’s in North Carolina and South Carolina. Heplayed Major League baseball. He was a member of Monticello BaptistChurch for 36 years, and served as a deacon. He was a World War IINavy veteran. While living in South Carolina, he was a member ofthe Lions Club and the Merchant’s Association, where he was aformer president, and he was a Mason.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Nelda ByrdBall; his sister, Bernice Howard; and a brother, Leonard Ball.

Survivors are his sons, Richard “Rick” G. Ball of Tupelo,Gregory “Greg” L. Ball and Jeff “Bull” Ball, both of Brookhaven,and Randall “Scotty” Ball of Madison; his brother, Dr. Ottis G.Ball of Jackson; and eight grandchildren.