Louise "Lou" (Jenkins) Ballew

Louise J. ‘Lou’ Ballew (aka Loulou) passed away peacefully on  December 27, 2018 from lung cancer, under the loving care of the Testa Family Hospice House staff.   

Born in Mauldin, SC in 1926, after graduating high school Lou went on to enjoy a long career in accounting and the nursery and landscaping business.  At the end of World War 2, she met the love of her life, Chuck Ballew, a decorated WW2 fighter pilot who was enrolled at Clemson University.  A fortuitous night of cruising on Greenville’s main drag with her 2 best friends, led to a life-changing meeting with Chuck who was in a car with his two cousins.  After 53 wonderful years of marriage, Chuck passed away in 1999.  In recovering from the tragic loss of her husband, Lou exhibited the courage, discipline, and strong character that we have all seen in her.  

She continued with her active involvement in the First Presbyterian Church, volunteering at Kings Mountain Hospital and serving on several governing boards of the City of Kings Mountain.  As a people person, Lou was continually energized by interacting with her friends, her family, and the people of Kings Mountain.  She was actively involved in sod production at Oakland Plantation and received awards from the nursery and landscaping association recognizing her contributions in that area.  She was volunteer of the year at Kings Mountain Hospital and was a Cleveland County distinguished woman of the year recipient in 2011.  If you didn’t find her volunteering, you could probably find her in her beloved garden with a glass of wine feeding the birds. 

Her life was further impacted by the loss of her daughter, Susan who married Greg Kilburn and gave her two wonderful grandchildren, Steve and Catherine.   

She will be missed by all including her son John, her grandchildren and son-in-law, her sisters Shirley Comer and Carol Williamson, brother Bill Jenkins and her loyal companion, Cat 5.  

She faced her illness with the same determination, courage, concern for others and lack of self-pity that she exhibited throughout her life.   

Bottom line, if you did not know Lou, you missed out on a friendship with an extraordinary woman. And,  if you were fortunate enough to know Lou, then you will not be surprised by her last words, “Jump up and fight like hell.”  

Visitation will be Friday, January 4, 2019 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Harris Funeral Home, 108 South Piedmont Ave. Kings Mountain, NC.   

In ‘Lou' of flowers, donations may be made to the Testa Family Hospice House at www.hospicecares.cc.
 

A graveside service for Lou will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January  19, 2019 at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, SC  29609      (near Bob Jones University)

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