Rebecca Ballenger

Rebecca “Becky” (Rosenzweig) Ballenger, 70, of Clinton, Mississippi, passed away on December 11, 2018, at The Woodlands in Clinton. Born March 26, 1948, in Monroe, Louisiana, Becky lived a life shaped by family, faith, and small pleasures that brought her — and those who loved her — great joy.

Becky was known by her family for her easy laugh, her fondness for reading, and a persistent fondness for finding bargains — she and her sister could be found exploring stores and enjoying each other’s company. A 1966 graduate of Central High School in Jackson, she treasured time spent with her grandchildren, and she delighted in driving them around town. Her home was fuller for the companionship of her beloved pets, Scooter, CeCe, and Jazzy, who were constant fixtures in her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph “Rudy” and Ethel Rosenzweig, and her sisters Yvonne Tettleton and Peggy Aulds. Becky is survived by her husband of many years, Thomas “Bailey” Ballenger of Clinton; her daughter Amanda McElroy (Art) and son Stephen Ballenger (Jessica Howard), both of Clinton; her sister Rollyns Bush of Jackson; and her cherished granddaughters Madeline McElroy and Ella Ballenger, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and other beloved family members.

Those who knew Becky remember a woman who loved her family deeply and who embraced the small, everyday moments that make life meaningful — sharing a meal, a laugh, an afternoon with a book, or a shopping trip with her sister. In lieu of flowers, the family requested gifts to the Becky Ballenger Memorial Fund at Morrison Heights Baptist Church to honor her spirit of service and care for others.

A celebration of Becky’s life was held at Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton on December 15, 2018. Her family asked that her memory be honored through acts of kindness and continued care for the people and causes she loved. She will be remembered for her warmth, her playful spirit, and the steady love she showed her family.