Tina Marie Ball Johnston

Tina Marie Ball Johnston passed away March 27, 2023 at home in Vancleave, Mississippi with her husband by her side. She was born on August 21, 1962 in Port Gibson, MS to James F. and Mildred M. Ball.

She graduated high school from WCCA in 1980 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Music from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi in 1984. Tina married the love of her life, Terry “Lee” Johnston in Woodville, Mississippi on June 9, 1984. They immediately moved to Germany where she began her life as an Air Force wife. When they returned to Mississippi, she decided to pursue her love of working with children and earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from USM Long Beach Branch in December 1994. She was an elementary school teacher at St. Martin East Elementary until the time of
her death.

Tina loved crafting and woodworking. She began her theatrical performances at the Frankfurt Playhouse in Frankfurt, Germany and it was a lifelong passion. She was loved all across the Mississippi Gulf Coast thru her numerous theatre performances over the years. Some of her favorite characters played were Dorothy in Wizard of Oz and Rizzo in Grease. She was also very active with the Mississippi Chapter of UDC.

She leaves behind her husband of almost 39 years, Lee Johnston; brother, Jim Ball (Donna) of Natchez; nephew, Ian Ball of Woodville; niece, Callie Kinsman of Biloxi, Sister-in-Law, Patti Hughes (Ray) of Biloxi; Brother-in-law, Gerald Johnston of Woodville; and a host of other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father, Donald Wade; and a younger sister, Edna Ball.

Pallbearers are Ian Ball, Don Kinsman, William McGraw, David Bell, Gerald Johnston and Ray Hughes.

Her family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Adrian Bersabe and the entire team at the 81st Med Group, Keesler AFB; the nurses at Kare-n-Home; and the wonderful staff at St. Martin East Elementary. We appreciate all the calls, texts, prayers, flowers and food.

A local visitation will be held at the Bradford-O'Keefe Chapel in Vancleave, MS on March 29, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

A visitation will be held Friday, March 31, 2023, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Newman's Chapel, Main Street Woodville, MS.  Graveside service and burial will immediately follow at Evergreen Cemetery Annex.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Tina Marie Ball Johnston.