Evelyn Destaffno Ballard

On Monday April 28 Evelyn (Eve) Destafffno Ballard, loving sister, aunt, and friend passed on to the next life she passionately believed in. Evelyn was born on September 8, 1941, in Spartanburg, SC to Arthur and Carrie Ballard. She honed her future administrative skills bossing around four older brothers and doting on her younger brother and sister.

A passionate learner, Evelyn attended Spartanburg Junior College after graduating from Fairforest High School in Spartanburg, SC. She completed a BA degree in Political Science with a minor in History at Furman University in Greenville, SC. As her career progressed, she went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. In her retirement years she continued her passion for knowledge by attending classes at the Osher Lifelong Long Learning Institute at Furman University in Greenville SC.

In 2000 Evelyn retired after a 34-year career with The United States Social Security Administration. Her last position was as District Manager in Anderson, SC. Her work spanned positions in Georgia, Minnesota and North and South Carolina. Prior to beginning her career in government Evelyn worked in the Public School System of Douglas County Georgia.

A great believer in volunteerism and giving back to one’s community, Evelyn joined many educational, civic and community organizations. She was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, on instructor of Political Science at Wake Technical Colleg in Raleigh, NC, and member of the Macon County Interagency Council, Franklin, NC. She was an officer of the Zonta International Women Club in Winston Salem, NC, a member of the Mayor’s Committees for the Handicapped and belonged to business and professional women’s clubs in each city she lived in. During her retirement years she was a volunteer with the DAR Tamassee School for children in Tamassee SC and served as a Child Advocate with the Guardian Ad Litem Program of Pickens County, SC

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Carrie Ballard, her brothers Jackie, Ray, Frankie, Lewis, Ted and James, three sisters-in-law Ruth, Sally and Shirley, and two nephews, Dr. Kevin Ballard and Jack Ballard. She is survived by her brother Wayne Ballard and his wife Gail and by her sister Carolyn Davis. Evelyn will be lovingly remembered by her many nieces and nephews: Iris Mix, Eve Norris, Lynn Ballard, Robert Ballard, Vince Ballard. Todd Ballard, Caroline McGaughey, Jasper Ballard, Wendy Dawson, Scott Davis and Libby Johnson. The circle of family that loved her included her childhood friend Gaynell Brown, many great nieces and nephews and the greater Ballard and Smith clan cousins.

A voracious reader, dog and cat mom, and family historian. A stubborn force to be reckoned with. An unrelenting advocate for enjoying a glass (or two) of wine, being who you are and doing what you want. Intelligent, witty and elegant, always elegant. A mentor to her many nieces and nephews and a loving sister, what she did was make our world brighter. We love and miss her.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Evelyn’s life on May 30th, 2022, at Calvery Baptist church on 4000 Parris Bridge Rd, Boiling Springs, SC. The family will receive friends at 5:00 with the service at 5:30 and a reception to follow at the Church.

In lieu of flowers it was Evelyn’s wish that memorial tributes be made either to The Ruth Searcy Ballard Endowed Scholarship Fund at Spartanburg Methodist College, 1750 Powell Mill Road, Spartanburg, SC. Or in the name of Arthur and Carrie Ballard to the Tamasee DAR School for Children, PO Box 8, Tamassee, SC 29686