Rick Ballard

In Memoriam January 12, 1947 - April 28, 2021

     Rick grew up in Barnesville, Georgia and was a 1965 high school graduate of Gordon Military College in Barnesville.  He attended LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia and then graduated in 1967 from the John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee.  He was a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 54 years, and was a member of both the Georgia Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association.  He was mentored in the funeral business by Guy, Ben, Warren, Matt and Harry Haisten; but it was Guy Haisten who truly taught Rick the funeral business and how to provide dignified and empathetic service to the community.  Along with providing funeral services to the community, Rick also ran an ambulance service in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  Rick purchased the Jackson, Barnesville and Griffin locations of Haisten Funeral Home in 1981, he owned and operated the Jackson, Georgia location until his death in April of 2021.  He was elected Coroner of Butts County, Georgia in 1981, and served in that office until 1996.  Rick loved his community, and was Chairman of the Butts County Board of Education and served on the Butts County Housing Authority.  He was a past President of Kiwanis International and a member of the Jaycees and Rotary Club.  Rick was a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Jackson, a member of the St. John’s Masonic Lodge #45 in Jackson, Georgia, and the Yaarab Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (a/k/a the “Shriners”) in Atlanta, Georgia. Rick also loved history and antiques, and he collected old books; among those being all of the works of Joel Chandler Harris (i.e., “Uncle Remus”) in first edition, many of which were also signed by the author.  He also enjoyed sharing family history and a good-natured joke.  

Lynda Ballard

Owner

Lynda Bartlett Ballard grew up in Chickamauga and LaFayette in Walker County Georgia. She is a 1965 honor graduate of LaFayette High School. She attended West Georgia College in Carrollton, Georgia where she earned a BS in Early Childhood Education. She met Douglas Richard (Rick) Ballard during her senior year and they were married in 1969. Rick and Lynda lived in Jackson, Georgia where Rick Worked at Haisten Funeral Home and Lynda began her teaching career at Jackson Elementary School (“JES”). Lynda continued her education and earned a Masters of Education from the Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia. She was honored by the Butts County Jaycees in 1974 as Outstanding Young Educator. Rick and Lynda’s son Douglas Richard Ballard, Jr. was born on their fifth wedding anniversary, September 20, 1974. Rick and Lynda were married 52 years before he passed away in April, 2021. Lynda taught Sunday School in the 1^st and 2^nd grade department of First Baptist Church of Jackson for several years and the Brotherhood of First Baptist recognized her for Outstanding Christian Service in 1989. She was first grade chairman ai JES for many years and enjoyed mentoring young educators and seeing them become leaders. She took pleasure in teaching young students to read as she believes that reading is fundamental to all learning. She was Teacher of the Year for JES in 1993 and 1997. Lynda is past president of the Jackson Business and Professional Women’s Origination and Kappa Delta Gamma, Upsilon Chapter. Lynda retired in 2009 after 40 years of teaching first grade at JES.  She is active in the Butts Retired Educators Association. She enjoys reading, hanging out with family and friends, and watching University of Georgia football games. Since Rick’s death, she is carrying on the family-owned business with the help of the caring, compassionate, competent and professional staff of Haisten Funeral Home.

Doug Ballard

Owner

Douglas (“Doug”) Richard Ballard, Jr. was born on September 20, 1974, in Griffin, Spalding County, Georgia on his parents’ fifth wedding anniversary.  Doug grew up in Jackson, Georgia, and attended Butts County Public Schools.  Doug was a 1993 honor graduate of Jackson High School.  Doug attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, graduating in May 1997 with two (2) Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees, double majoring in Political Science and History.  While at Emory, Doug joined the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.  Doug worked as a part-time law library clerk at Troutman Sanders, LLP in Atlanta, Georgia from 1995 – 1998 while attending college and for a year after graduating.  Doug began attending law school in 1998 at the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, graduating with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree in May 2001.  Doug passed the Georgia Bar Exam in July 2001, and he took the oath to become an attorney on October 30, 2001.  Doug worked as an Associate attorney at Fears, Lawrence & Turner, P.C. in Jackson, Georgia from 2001 – 2010, had a solo general practice in Jackson, Georgia from 2010 – 2012, worked as Corporate Counsel and Deputy General Counsel at Jones Petroleum Company, Inc. in Jackson, Georgia from 2012 – 2023, and is currently practicing as a solo attorney.  Doug shares his father’s love of history, antiques, collecting, organ music, and both of his parents’ love of animals and University of Georgia football.  Doug and his family have had Georgia football season tickets since 1984 and routinely meet friends in Athens to begin tailgating on gamedays before dawn.  Doug had a very special love for his pet cat Rhett, who passed away in 2000, and for his family’s pet golden retriever Sally, who passed away in 2021.

Jeff Dodd

Funeral Director, FDCC

Jeff has been serving families for over 35 years. After completing his education receiving his Master of Public Health, and business administration, he served as an administrator in both hospitals and nursing homes throughout Georgia. He then felt led to attain his funeral directors license and has served families in the middle Georgia area for many years. Jeff and his wife Michelle are members of Jackson Presbyterian Church. Jeff and Michelle share a wonderful life having 4 children between them. They reside here in Jackson, GA and feel blessed to live in a true "home- town" community.

Richard Brooks

Funeral Associate

Richard is a lifelong resident of Jackson; he graduated Jackson High School in the class of 1974. He believes in putting back into the community. Richard joined The Exchange Club of Jackson in 1982 and has served at both the local and state level. He remained an active member until the Club surrendered its charter. He was presented the Shining Light Award by the Butts County Chamber of Commerce in 2012 for his community service. He is a former youth baseball coach, Cub Scout & Boy Scout leader having served on the local and district level, he earned the rank Eagle Scout in 1970. Richard is an active, 4^th generation member of Stark Methodist Church, his grandparents and great-grandparents are listed as some of the original members back in the 1860’s.  He joined the staff of Haisten Funeral Home in October of 2015.

Richard married Jenkinsburg native, Jackie Burford in 1981. They have one son, one daughter, and three granddaughters.

Jack Reeves

Administrative Assoicate

Jack is a Butts County native, graduating from Jackson High School in 1969. He was employed at Sylvan Grove Hospital while pursuing nursing at Griffin Tech, graduating in 1970. He is a Military Veteran, serving in the U.S. Army. Jack was  certified as an E.M.T. in 1973. He began his career with Haisten Funeral Home in 1978 and continues in this capacity today. He served Butts County as Deputy Coroner for thirteen years.

He married the former Reba Huckaby of Thomaston, GA in 1970. Jack and Reba have one son, one daughter, six grandchildren and one great-grand child.

Michelle Dodd

Pre-Planning and After Care Services

Dr. Ed Hoard

Chaplain