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Colette Bourassa Ballard, formerly of Suffolk,  died on Dec. 18, 2021, in Lynchburg. She was born on Dec. 9, 1926, in Trois Rivieres, Quebec, the youngest of 9 children of Ouila and Henrietta Bourassa.

In 1944 she moved to Montreal to study at Universite de Montreal and subsequently worked at the Bell Telephone Co. In 1960 after a long courtship, she eloped to New York to marry Alonza Wood Ballard Jr., and the two relocated to Suffolk in 1963. There she raised two sons, worked at the Golden Peanut Company, attended Main Street United Methodist Church and was active in many community organizations, including volunteer work at Obici Memorial Hospital. All who knew her enjoyed her sense of humor and zest for life. She is survived by her sons, Alan Perry Ballard and Andre Lee Ballard and six grandchildren. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home Northern Chapel is serving the family. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.