WILMINGTON — Our beloved mother, Mary Catherine (Kay) Henry Ballard, went home on October 20, 2025, to the welcoming arms of her parents, Helen Patricia and Maurice Kent Henry, her longtime love Jim Stras, as well as beloved pets including Pixie, Mac, and Dakota.
She leaves behind, to cherish her life lessons and many memories, her children: Thomas Scott Ballard of West Jefferson, NC; Robin Kent Ballard Earp (Jeff) of Wilmington, NC; and Patricia Ballard Fleischman (Andrew) of Louisville, KY. Her grandchildren—blessed beyond measure by their time spent with their “Kaki”—are Wilbur, Henry, Mary Helen, Camden, Thomas, Bess, and Harris.
Although she described herself in later years as, first and foremost, an artist, her life was rich with many chapters and callings. The quote she chose for her senior high school yearbook — “The load, cheerfully borne, becomes light” — was a sentiment she embodied daily for the rest of her life.
Born in Covington, VA in 1941 and raised in Middlesboro, KY, Kay spent her earliest years on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in nearby Harrogate, TN, where her grandfather later became president. After attending college at Randolph-Macon and the University of Virginia, she married Jim Ballard and began her career as a speech therapist in the Middlesboro Independent Schools.
Upon the birth of her son, Scott, she embraced her role as a devoted mother and lifelong advisor. While raising Scott, Robin, and Trish, she also worked at the family radio station, WMIK AM/FM in Middlesboro, was a steadfast supporter of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, and supported her daughters in the marching band as a tireless band mom. It was during this time that she began what she coined her work as a “professional volunteer,” devoting her time, creativity, and energy to the organizations she held most dear.
For her life’s second act, she moved to Pawleys Island, SC, and reconnected with a childhood friend, Jim Stras, who lived in France. Their renewed connection developed into a long and happy relationship that found her living outside Paris, becoming fluent in French, exploring countless museums, taking a variety of art classes, and wandering around Europe with Jim in a tiny Peugeot.
She later returned to settle in Wilmington, NC, and, following Jim’s passing, began to fill her life with new volunteer roles, art-making, travel, and treasured family memories. Kay’s dedicated volunteer service included being a “Pink Lady” and a Patient Advocate at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, manning booths for the Wilmington Art Association, and supporting local animal rescues.
The family beach weeks she hosted with her daughter Robin became legendary — joyful gatherings that reflected her lifelong devotion to family, filled with cherished recipes and kir royales, good times, and her gift for bringing people together across generations.
Throughout her life, she infused everything around her with a spirit of creativity and artistry. From her early days of sewing and crafting for St. Mary’s Bazaar, to her explorations of stained glass, and later her work in a variety of media, her desire to explore new artistic endeavors never waned. She became well known in the Wilmington art community for her pastel work, earning admiration for both her talent and her generosity of spirit. A high point of her artistic career was her solo pastel exhibition at the St. John’s Art Museum. Her collection of 365 Sketch-a-Day diaries, in which she visually chronicled years of activities and travels, have become treasured family heirlooms.
Kay encouraged everyone in her family and extended network of friends to discover their own paths to creative expression and to embrace every opportunity to “forge ahead” in fulfilling their purpose in life. These examples stand as a lasting testimony to her unwavering support and love.
Her deep faith was always her guide. One of the great joys of her spiritual journey was completing the two-year Education for Ministry (EfM) program from the School of Theology at Sewanee. She joyfully engaged in many outreach opportunities at St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington, most notably creating the Care Guild, managing the church gift shop, and cooking countless Meals on Wheels. After moving to Cambridge Village in Wilmington, she continued her ministry by helping lead resident-led church services, offering comfort, faith, and community to those around her.
We are forever grateful to her friends and the staff at Cambridge Village, who so warmly welcomed Kaki into their community over the last two years. We also wish to thank all her friends and caregivers who supported and brightened her final months — especially her fellow artist Todd Lengyeltoti and Rachael Gray, her LifeCare nurse.
A memorial service will be held at Mount Lebanon Chapel, 814 Airlie Road, Wilmington, on Saturday, November 1 at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you support Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, an animal rescue charity, your favorite arts organization, or simply volunteer your time and skills at a charity that needs you.
