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Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. on Friday, August 2, 2024, at Love Faithfully Ministries; 171 Old Fayetteville Road, Leland, NC 28451.Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Friday.

Marvin Eugene Ballard, lovingly known to all his family and friends as "Bruno", was born in Leland, NC on July 14, 1947, to Henry Lee, Sr. & Geneva Ballard.  His eternal spirit returned home July 26, 2024.  He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Henry Lee, Sr., and Geneva Ballard, his brothers Ivory, Henry Lee, Jr. and his sisters Cynthia, Mary Sheresa, Elouise, Vanessa and Ella. Marvin was the first-born son of Henry Lee & Geneva, and was lovingly raised by his grandmother, Rebecca Hatcher Ballard.  Marvin married the love of his life, Earlease Corbett on March 16,1972.  They shared 52 years of matrimony.  Marvin graduated from Lincoln High School, class of 1965.  He then proceeded to go to NC A&T with an emphasis in pre-law.  It was at this point that he was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam where he was awarded a National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Award (2-D award) and Sharpshooter Qualification Badge M-16.  He was honorably discharged in 1971 and went on to get a Master's degree at the University of Northern Colorado.  After the military, he and his wife moved to Denver where Marvin began his long career as a counselor.  In 1994, Marvin and his family moved to Hawaii where he would continue as a counselor for the VA.  Marvin retired and returned to his roots in NC where he would spend the rest of his days.  In his free time "Bruno" loved to cook, his favorites were ribs, steak and salmon.  He also loved  listening to Jazz, and his favorite radio station, NPR.  Most of all he loved spending time with his family and friends.  Marvin leaves behind to cherish his memory; his wife, Earlease, his daughters, LaShon (Otis), Muyunda (Jay) and Shamika.  A granddaughter Tia, and two grandsons; Cadell and Kalani, a great granddaughter Ireland and two great grandsons Zaiden and K'hari, five brothers; Clifton (Annette), Ronnie, Stan, Larry & Reginald; four sisters, Willa Mae, Ruby (Johnny), Vonnie and Helen; three sister in laws, Katrina (Mark), Marilyn and Jackie and two brother in laws; Andrew (Joyce) and Cyrus along with a host of nieces and nephews.  He also leaves behind a great number of close friends and confidants, in particular Carl Gene, Otis and Allen Perkel.  He will be greatly missed, and his legacy will live on forever in our hearts.