No matter what life presents you, Joi Ball says, “There are no rewinding buttons; can only go forward.” It’s a philosophy she has used her entire life.Joi, from Long Island, New York, was attending Virginia Tech studying computer science when she met Burley Ball of Mathews. Burley was a student studying forestry; later learning that graduates in that field were having problems getting jobs, he decided to change and entered the Shipyard Apprentice School. Joi changed her major to elementary education. They were married in 1975.

Joi says she probably learned some cooking from her mother who “did basic meat and potato cooking. She was a picky eater. Oatmeal chocolate cookies were her treat. I am a recipe follower but sometimes will tweak it. I don’t create recipes; I just follow them.”

Adapting to her new home in Mathews, Joi became involved with community activities. She was a Girl Scout leader, member of Junior Woman’s Club, PTA, and now is very active with Friends of the Library...