Raymond Arnold Ball, a former Alabama Baptist minister of music and youth, died July 17. He was 81.
A Mississippi native, Ball earned his music degree from Mississippi College in Clinton and his master’s from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
He then served several years as a chaplain’s assistant in the U.S. Army and received several medals, including the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Duty as Chaplain’s Assistant and for work with the Vietnamese people in teaching voice and English conversation in 1965.
After returning to the United States he started a long ministry which included three Alabama churches.
From 1966 to 1970, he served as minister of music and youth at First Baptist Church, Jackson. From there, he served as minister of music at Berney Points Baptist Church, Birmingham, until 1975. He later served as minister of music and youth at Fairview Baptist Church, Selma, from 1993 to1995.
Ball also was involved in other Baptist activities over the years. He was accepted into the CenturyMen of the Southern Baptist Convention Radio TV Commission in fall of 1971. He taught voice and music at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega and was a charter member of the Alabama Singing Men.
He also served churches in Texas, Florida and Mississippi, including Highland Colony Baptist, in Ridgeland, Mississippi, where he retired in 2003.
Ball is preceded in death by his son, James Arnold. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marcia; son, Ron; and three grandchildren. (Grace Thornton)
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