Rev. M. Sylvia Ball, 64, was born November 14, 1953 in Washington D.C. the 7th child of the late William Robert and Flossie Butler.
She was raised in a loving Christian home by her father who was Catholic and mother who was Protestant. Together they provided an environment that uniquely shaped her for ministry. Although Rev. Ball went to a Catholic school and regularly attended Catholic Church as a child, she also welcomed the opportunity to fellowship at a Baptist church with her mother several times a year.
As she grew into adulthood she sought a church that would better satisfy her heart’s longing for a more vibrant worship, praise and preached Word.
In 1985, she joined Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Washington D.C. The next year (1986), Rev. Ball accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior and followed the Lord’s prompting to pursue the Discipleship Training Ministry at that church.
In June of 1997, during a time of prayer, God directed Rev. Ball to reflect on Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” Impelled by this scriptural verse, Rev. Ball subsequently acknowledged the call to preach and under the guidance of her pastor, was licensed in September 1999.
In May 2004, Rev. Ball was named Assistant Pastor at Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Capitol Heights, MD. Under the tutelage of Pastor Michael C. Turner, Sr., she gained greater clarity on her call to both proclaim the Gospel and lead others in ministry. She was ordained later that same year in October.
Firmly believing that her spiritual gifts and talents could best be enhanced through advanced theological study, in February 2007 she entered a graduate studies program at the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University; completed her advanced education and graduated magna cum laude in May 2009, with a Master of Divinity.
Rev. Ball was designated as the Executive Minister of Faith Missionary Baptist Church of Waldorf, MD in 2010. Under her leadership the church grew spiritually and in members. Within a year, at the encouragement of her pastor, she applied for the pastoral position at Sweet Union Baptist Church in Roanoke, VA. She accepted the call to serve in March 2011, becoming the first female pastor in the history of that Church.
As pastor of Sweet Union Baptist Church, Rev. Ball exercised visionary leadership in establishing a number of ministries and in providing venues for enhanced learning and evangelism.
She served as a Board member for the Baptist General Convention and the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association and as the first female West Regional Vice President of the Virginia Baptist State Convention. In addition, she was involved in several community activities and organizations, particularly those addressing social injustices.
She was preceded in death by her loving parents and 3 brothers, William R. Jr., Paul D. and James M. Butler.
Rev. Ball is survived by her husband, William Rick Ball; a daughter, Lavone A. Lindsey (James); 2 grandsons, Eldrick Alexander and Brandon Lindsey; a granddaughter, Layla Faith Lindsey; siblings: William J., (Sonia); John T., (Robin) and Robert A. Butler; and, Mary C. Armstead (her twin); one remaining uncle, Daniel Epps; and a host of other relatives.
The wake for Pastor Ball will be held 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, March 16, at Sweet Union Baptist Church, 521 Madison Ave., NW. Her funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 17 at the same location with arrangement by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home, 540-344-1271.
A memorial service is also being planned in the Washington D.C. area.
Rev. Dr. Joseph Arthur Keaton, pastor emeritus of Roanoke’s Central Baptist Church, was called home to be with his Lord on Sunday, March 11, 2018.
He was 80, born February 1, 1938 in Kimball, WV the tenth of twelve children of James Arthur and Emma Jane Keaton, all of whom have preceded him in death.
He moved to Roanoke at age 7 and attended Roanoke City Public Schools, graduating from Lucy Addison High School in 1955. During his high school years he met the love of his life, Mary Katherine Wade with whom he was united in holy matrimony in 1956 and God blessed this union, with 3 sons.
In 1961, he was drafted into the military service and served a tour of duty in Germany prior to being honorably discharged in 1963. At an early age he joined the Central Baptist Church under the pastorate of his uncle, the late Dr. H. H. Waid, As a youth, the call to ministry had been laid on his heart and in 1970 he accepting that call. Pastor Keaton was an example of and advocate for education.
He held a Certificate in Bible Studies and Advanced Pastoral Theology and Colonial Baptist College conferred upon him the Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education. He later pursued Biblical studies at Hollins University and in March 2003, received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Richmond (VA) Theological Seminary, He pastored his first church, Indian Rock (Baptist Church, Buchanan, VA, for several years before being called to pastor the First Baptist Church of Hollins where he served for 16 years. In 1987, he became pastor of Central Baptist Church, NW Roanoke and in 2017, after 30 years of prosperous pastorate, Rev. Keaton retired with the distinction of Pastor Emeritus.
In addition to his pastoral leadership, Pastor Keaton has faithfully served in the following positions: as Moderator of the Valley Baptist Association, President of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Roanoke-Salem-Vinton and Vicinity and as instructor of Biblical Studies at Shenandoah and Colonial Bible Colleges and Hollins University.
Pastor Keaton was was not just a pastor but a father figure to many and will always be remembered for going above and beyond for the people he served,
Those left to cherish and celebrate his dedicated life include: his sons: Anthony (Cindy), Stephen (Nollie) Keaton, all of Salem, VA; Rev. David (Kimberly) Keaton, Minneapolis, MN and Herman (Heather) Word, Jr. of Knoxville, TN; 8 grandchildren; brothers-in law, Johnny and Charles Wade; and sister-in-law, Ella Marie Wade; special extended family, Eliza Word and Maxine Hunt, all of Roanoke and a hosts of other relatives especially his Central Baptist and Hollins Baptist Church families.
His wake is scheduled for 6:00-8:00 p.m., Sunday, March 18 at Central Baptist Church, 1502 Staunton Ave., NW. with funeral being held 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 19 also at the church. Professional arrangements by Hamlar-Curtis Funeral Home.
