Phillips-Riley Funeral Home | Montgomery, AL

Obituary For Lynn Ballard

The family of Lynn Esther Ballard of Montgomery, Alabama is heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved mother, sister, aunt, and GiGi on Thursday April 13, 2023. The family wants to extend their gratitude for the gentleness and compassion shown at Phillips Riley Funeral Home in Montgomery, Alabama.

The second daughter of the late Dovie Ballard Jr. and Mary Lena Clayton Ballard, Lynn was born on May 2, 1958, in Port Huron, Michigan. She grew up in Akron, Ohio where she was baptized at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. She and her family later became members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church where she served as a devoted member of the choir with her sisters for many years.

Growing up in Akron, Lynn and her beloved siblings (Marva Grace, Stephanie Cara, and Casey Sr.) often traveled to visit family in Pascagoula and Moss Point, Mississippi, Mobile and Daphne, Alabama, Detroit, Michigan, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a little girl, Lynn joined the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio and took guitar lessons at St. Peter’s Catholic School. While attending Buchtel High School, Lynn and her sisters formed the singing group T & Madison Rose and won several competitions in the local Ohio area. She graduated high school in 1975.

Lynn attended Akron University where she became a Spring 1977 initiate of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Delta Pi Chapter. She was #7 on the “Hollywood 7” line. After graduating with a Bachelor of Art degree in Mass Media Communication from Akron University in 1980, Lynn moved to Houston, Texas and spent time in Indianapolis, Indiana before settling in Tuskegee, Alabama. In Tuskegee, Lynn worked at Tuskegee University leaving behind a phenomenal legacy including joining the Institutional Advisory Committee for the National Center for Bioethics Research & Healthcare, coordinating the Center for Biomedical Research, and directing the Office of Sponsored Programs. In 1991, Lynn earned a master’s in public administration degree from Auburn University at Montgomery.

That same year, she served as a consultant for the Tuskegee University-Sokoine University of Agriculture Linkage Project. This work took her to Morogoro, Tanzania in Africa with a team of colleagues that included Dr. Arthur Siaway. While in Tanzania, she and Arthur fell in love. Lynn and Arthur married soon after and she gave birth to her only child, Dovie “Wings” Lynn Monét Siaway in July of 1992. She named her daughter after her beloved father who told her, “Never let any tar get on your wings.”

To say that Lynn was a devoted mother would be an understatement. She loved her daughter fiercely. Anyone who witnessed the two of them together would have seen just how strong of a bond they shared. From letting her run around class as a toddler while she taught at Auburn University and completed coursework, residency, and core exams for her PhD in Public Administration & Public Policy, to participating in Black Lives Matter protests in the Bay Area, Wings was always by Lynn’s side watching and learning from a phenomenal role model.

Lynn was intentional about instilling compassion, strength, and determination into not only her daughter, but her nieces and nephews too. She loved being Auntie.

One of Lynn’s former bosses described her as a “parachute leader,” someone who can rapidly immerse herself into just about any situation and get the job done. Lynn and Dovie moved to Emeryville, California in 2002 where she “parachuted” in as executive director of Berkeley Biotechnology Education, Inc., advocating for educational and career equity for underrepresented students.

She brought her talents to the Emery Unified School District where she served as lead author for multiple grants, managed projects focused on STEM initiatives, and provided support to the Emery Education Fund. Lynn’s legacy as a parent advocate for change impacted the lives of many students, parents, and faculty. She broke down many barriers that allowed countless students to achieve academic excellence.

Her daughter was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley, the #1 public institution in the world. As the local mom, she was known by many Cal students as “Mama Lynn” and she enjoyed visiting campus and welcoming them all into her home for fish fries and conversation. When her daughter graduated in 2017, she described it as “one of her proudest moments”.

After 16 years in the Bay Area, Lynn moved back to Montgomery, Alabama with Wings in 2018. She loved spending time with her family barbecuing, dancing down Soul Train lines, sharing stories from her childhood, and playing with her great nieces and nephews who she adored. She began working for Montgomery Public Schools as a Substitute Teacher continuing her work pushing students to achieve their best. The last school she worked at was Flowers Elementary and she adored her 5th grade class and all the staff and faculty.

Lynn had a special gift of writing. She shared several of her short stories as part of the Grato Deli Writing Club in Emeryville, and in 2022 she became a published editor working with Reverend Marvin Mims Sr. on his novel The Crossroads of Champions: Manhood, Military, Marriage & Ministry, accomplishing a lifelong dream. Her gift of writing impactful and inspiring words, her love of research, and her passion for being an agent of change were instrumental in changing many lives. She edited and wrote scores of manuals and secured millions of dollars in grant funding that enabled many organizations to positively impact their constituents.

Lynn passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at the young age of 64. She was preceded in death by her brother Casey Ballard Sr. Left to cherish her memory forever are her daughter, Dovie “Wings” Lynn Monét Siaway; sisters Marva Grace Ballard-Smoot, and Stephanie Cara Mitchell; brother-in-law Arthur “Tick” Mitchell; sister-in-law Denise Ballard; nieces Lena Noel, Luci Virginia Mitchell, Stephanie Lynn Orya Smoot; nephews Casey Jr., Christian Ballard, and Christopher Dove Ezeh; great nephews and nieces Cayleb, Reece, DeHavilland “Gracie”, Vera, Laylah, Carter, Micah, Carlton “Karsen”, Kelvin, and Tessa; cherished aunt, Rosalee Cunningham Short; beloved cousins Roderick (Semecca) Kimbrough, Jennifer Short, Debra “DJ” Lett, Melvia Lett (Ezra) Jackson, Timothy, and Kenn (Sun) Lett; longtime friends Juliette and Harriett Dunn, Laura, Joyce, and Barbara Scotland, and Pam Covington; and numerous other relatives, friends, and colleagues.

We will forever be grateful to God for the life of our beloved Lynn Esther, Mommy, Auntie, GiGi, and Mama Lynn. A memorial service will be held at Phillips Riley Funeral Home, 2284 W Fairview Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday April 29, 2023, at 11 AM where we will celebrate her life.

Guest Book

I just learned of Lynn's passing and wanted her family to know that she will be missed by her fellow Buchtel Class of 75 friends. Lynn was a very special person. May God grant her family and friends peace.

- na

Truly thankful to God for allowing me the opportunity to meet, work, and spend quality time with Mrs. Ballard at two schools. She lived a devoted life and inspired me to continue to do the same. Praying for strength and continue devotion to the Lord for the family. ~Katrina Hayden

- na

Marva & Stephanie, Praying for you as you celebrate the life of Lynn. We hold many memories of having your family in our lives. Love, Barbara Myrna Pattie Bernard Patterson. Pattie 216-258-2435

- Petrina Patterson

I met Mrs. Ballard when she worked at Flowers Elementary School, and I can truly say that she was a joy to work with! You have earned your wings and a sweet resting place in Heaven. Rest in peace. Wendy F. Hamilton

- na

My dear sister, From little girls on up, you have always been by my side. No words can truly express the loss I feel. Rest well sister until we meet again. Stephanie Mitchell

- Stephanie Mitchell

I want to offer my prayers and love to the family of Lynn. I have fond memories of our family visits and singing in the choir at Mt. Zion Baptist Choir. I will hold on to our special memories. Love your Cousin from Akron, Ohio Sharon Jones

- na

Praying for strength for the family of the late Lynn Ballard.

- na

Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

- Phillips-Riley Funeral Home | Montgomery, AL