Tula Jeffries

Tula Gammill Ball Jeffries, 88, died June 15, 2010 at Broadway Plaza Home in Arlington, Texas. She was born July 12, 1921 to Arthur and Elizabeth Gammill in Howard County, Arkansas. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Nashville, Arkansas. She graduated from Nashville High School in 1939 and married Olin Ball of Nashville. Four children were born to this union: Evan Fred Ball, Sandra Jean Ball, John Edwin Ball and Ramona Kathryn Ball. After Olin�s death in 1957, she worked at the First National Bank of Nashville, Arkansas for nine years. In 1966, she married Allen Jeffries of Orrick, Missouri, and moved to his home in Missouri. Tula lived there for thirty-one years, returning to her native south after his death in 1997. Tula was a devoted scholar of the Bible, a writer and a Sunday School teacher. She wrote an inspirational column for the Ray County News for sixteen years, and had several published books. She felt a strong commitment to the Music Evangelism Foundation of Colorado Springs, and served on its Board of Directors for several years. The Foundation�s Bible Conference each year was a special ministry she strongly supported. Tula loved sports and took great pleasure in her favorite teams in all sporting events. Tula was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Lt. Col. Evan Gammill, three children, John in 1994, Fred in 1995, Sandra in 2010 and a granddaughter, Dee Ball in 2006. She is survived by daughter Kathy Benson of DeSoto, Texas and six grandchildren. She is also survived by two stepsons, Kenneth and Bill Jeffries and a step daughter, Marilyn Tidwell, thirteen step-grandchildren and a host of friends. Funeral Services are scheduled for 10:00 A.M, Friday, June 18, 2010, at Latimer Funeral Home, Nashville, with Bro. David Blasé officiating, burial to follow at Ozan Cemetery, under the direction of Latimer Funeral Home. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Tula Jeffries please visit our Sympathy Store.