Burley Clayton Ball Jr. of Mathews, Va., died suddenly Saturday morning, July 30, 2016.

Burley spent his career working at the Newport News Shipyard, having started as a welder in the Apprentice School and then as a budget analyst. He was the director of the Mathews Neighborhood Choir and recently started a hobby/business making custom-crafted wooden kayak paddles, Moonlight Paddles.

He is survived by his wife, Joanna (Joi) and his two daughters, Jessica Behmke and her husband Derek and Rebecca Ball. He is also survived by his mother, Virginia D. Ball; his sister, Lynn Gravelle and her husband Everett, and his brother, Louis Ball and his wife Diane. 

In accordance with his wishes, the family will celebrate his life and mourn his passing privately, to be followed by a memorial sometime in the future.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mathews Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 1130, Mathews, Va. 23109, the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 730, Mathews, Va. 23109 or to Bethel UM Church, c/o Nancy Rowe, P.O. Box 1104, Mathews, Va. 23109.