The Rev. Canon John Coming Ball

The Reverend Canon John Coming Ball, Jr., 95, of Charleston, South Carolina, widower of Helen "Nell" Jervey Ingle Ball, died Thursday, April 26, 2018. Two services will be held: A memorial service will be held Friday, May 4, 2018 in The Chapel at Bishop Gadsden, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way at 4:00 p.m. and a Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, May 8, 2018 in The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul, 120 Coming Street at 3:00 p.m. Interment to follow in the Cathedral Churchyard. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

John was born April 26, 1923 in Summerville, South Carolina, the son of the late John Coming Ball and Anne Arden Jervey Ball. He attended prep school at St. Andrews Episcopal in Delaware. John received both his BS in Chemistry in 1946 and Theological Education at the University of the South, Sewanee in 1958. He served as a first lieutenant submariner in the U.S. Navy during WWII; worked for Hercules Powder Co./Dupont and then married in 1953. John served as an Episcopal Priest beginning at Christ Church, Denmark, SC, from 1958-1961 then served in the Diocese of Atlanta at St. Anne's from 1961-1976, in San Antonio, Texas at St. Mark's Episcopal from 1976-1979 returning in 1979 to South Carolina to serve as Vicar to the following parishes of Holy Apostles in Barnwell, St Alban's in Blackville & Christ Church in Denmark. In 1985 he was called to St. Philip's in Charleston and soon after was called to the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul as interim Dean from 1987-1989 and was appointed Canon Pastor for the Diocese by Bishop Allison. John was very involved in Cursillo in both the Diocese of South Carolina and Texas. He served on the Board for Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community for several years and in 2000 moved there with Nell. John continued to serve as Canon Ball until 2007 when Nell became ill. He was lovingly taken care of in skilled nursing at Bishop Gadsden his last two years. It was noted that John's gift of pastoral care was widely known in Charleston's many hospitals and nursing homes.

John is survived by two daughters: Helen "Nell" Ball Brennan (Robbie) of Columbia and Sarah "Sally" Ball Damewood (Greg) of Charleston; a brother, Edward Robbins Ball of Mt. Pleasant; 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nell Ball; and two daughters: Charlotte Ball Vogelsang (Chris) and Caroline Ball Hawkey (Blake).

Memorials may be made to Bishop Gadsden Resident's Fund, c/o Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412 or any charity of your choice.