Obituary: Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Snyder Ball

Jacqueline “Jackie” Snyder Ball passed away late Wednesday evening surrounded by her family: son Jason, daughter Michaela Miller, older brother Dennis Snyder, and husband Jim. In addition, she is survived by Charles Miller, husband of Michaela, grandsons Griffin and Solomon Miller, and numerous nieces and nephews, and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister Mavis, and her parents Henry and Lucy Snyder.

Jackie was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., on May 4, 1932, where she grew up as a member of Advent Moravian Church. She graduated from Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University), and after a brief period teaching in North Carolina, moved to Oak Ridge in 1957 to teach in the Oak Ridge School system, first as an English teacher and then for years as a librarian at Jefferson Junior High School. After retirement from the Oak Ridge School system in 1994, she taught for several years as an adjunct instructor in the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Library Science.

She was active in the community arts, particularly with the Oak Ridge Playhouse and as a soprano soloist with Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. Over her career, she appeared in some 13 productions at the Playhouse and is perhaps best remembered for her role as Marian the Librarian in the Playhouse’s first production of Music Man.

She enjoyed coaching students in speech and dramatic presentations, and enjoyed working with the young men and women she helped prepare for the Optimist Club Oratorical contests. She was particularly fond of the students she worked with at the Mount Zion Monday Evening study sessions. She was very proud to see four of her students go on to win the state competition.

In the early days of cablevision in Oak Ridge, Jackie was proud of her work on “Oak Ridge Today,” where she began as education reporter. She loved focusing on and showcasing the many people and wonderful programs and organizations that made Oak Ridge such a great place to live. She was a long-time contributor with an education column in Oak Ridge Visions Magazine (Anderson County Visions Magazine). She loved and cherished her community, her friends and was proud to call Oak Ridge home.

She received numerous awards and commendations for her work with students and her volunteerism. In 1999, she received the Happy Booker Volunteer Award, given by the Knoxville Opera Guild. In 2001, she was awarded the Children’s Hero Award given by the Children’s Advocacy Network. In 2002, the mayor of Oak Ridge declared Saturday, June 15th “Jackie Ball Day,” for her work with the Monday Evening Study Session at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. In August 2004, she received the Knoxville YWCA’s Tribute to Women Award in the arts category. She was a member of Altrusa International and had been active with their scholarship program.

Jackie was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, where she was a long-time choir member and soprano soloist. She also served for several years as director of the Children’s Choir. She was a member of the Daughters of the King.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Dr. Craig Kallio officiating. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made in the form of contributions to the St. Stephens Episcopal Church Music Program, or Outreach Program, or to the Mount Zion Baptist Church Monday Evening Study program.

Weatherford Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.