Obituary of Juanita Joyce Ball

On Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Juanita Joyce Ball transitioned from labor to reward with her daughter Ursula by her side. God saw she was getting tired, and he took her home so that she could have eternal rest. Juanita was born May 29, 1942, in East Gulf, West Virginia, the sixth child born to Samuel Whitfield Hall and Ella Seldon Hall. She was educated in the public school system of East Gulf and Amigo, West Virginia and relocated to Bronx, New York upon completion of high school. While obtaining her college degree in business and working full time at Bronx State Hospital, Juanita gave birth to her eldest daughter, Annette Hall. In later years, while living in New York, she met and married the love of her life, Charles R. Ball on December 5, 1970. A few years after their union, Juanita gave birth to her second daughter, Ursula. In efforts to provide a better life for his family, Charles relocated his wife and daughter to Norwalk, CT in 1976. Several years later after relocating to Connecticut, Juanita decided to resign from her position at Bronx State Hospital, and she began her journey of working as the Director of Energy Services at Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now (NEON). During her 40 years of service at NEON, she developed a strong relationship within the community that she served. “Mrs. Ball”, as she was called in the community, was tough, no nonsense, but FAIR. Juanita dedicated her life to providing resources to all in need regardless of economic status, until her retirement in 2018. She embraced NEON’s belief that any social service program should not be a handout but rather a hand up to a better life. As a child, Juanita was a member of East Gulf Tabernacle Baptist Church, while living in the Bronx, she joined Trinity Baptist Church. Upon relocating to Norwalk, she joined the Cannan Institutional Baptist Church for several years and later joining the First Congregational Church of Norwalk. Juanita was preceded in death by her husband Charles R Ball, her parents, Samuel, and Ella Hall, five sisters, Louise and Patricia Hall, Audrey Meadows (Joseph Meadows), Carol Johnson (Fred Johnson) and Ada McBride (Fank McBride); two brothers, Samuel Hall Jr. (Pamela Hall), and Herbert Hall (Marie Hall). Juanita leaves behind her daughters, Ursula Ball, Bridgeport, CT and Annette Hall, Columbus Ohio; Godchildren James Meadows II and Matthew Baker along with a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 3, 2024 from 11:00AM – 12:00PM followed by a service of celebration at 12:00PM at First Congregational Church on the Green, Park Street, Norwalk, CT. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Norwalk, CT.