Mrs. Margaret Richards Ballew, age 88 of Cleveland, TN, passed away on February 26, 2020 in the Bradley Health Care in Cleveland, TN. She was born on March 30, 1931 to the late Dallas Peter and Ora Jane Tarpley Richards in Fannin County, GA. She had mostly worked in retail sales, beginning at Williams 5 and Dime Store for a number of years and later retiring from Life Line Christian Book Store. She enjoyed the outdoors in many ways including gardening, working in the yard (often barefooted) and fishing. Margaret spent most of her life in service of others in some way and she loved spending time with her family and grandchildren. One of her greatest accomplishments was that she was a charter member of the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame from her days of High School Basket Ball. Also preceding her in death is her husband, Ham Tedo Ballew; and four siblings, David Richards, Patsy Ruth Richards, Mark Richards and Janice Richards Mote. Survivors include her children and their spouses, Danny and Jenny Ballew of Mineral Bluff, GA, Freeda Helton of Cleveland, TN and Wanda Kay and Gentry "Buck" Newby of McMinnville, TN; sister and brother-in-law, Betty Jo and Wayne Owenby of Villa Rica, GA; grandchildren, Channing (Faith) Ballew, Jamison Ballew, Cindy (Jeff) Clabough, Carla (Craig) Foster, Caryn (Butch) Gibson, Holly (Kevin) Sizemore, Chad (Lindsey Cook) Newby, Scott (Doris) Graves, Tina (Aaron) Hairy, Jeremy (Melissa) Helton, Hilary Helton and Cindy (Mark) Sockwell; great grandchildren, Angel, Victoria, Brandon, Alexandra, Hailey, Pacey Ballew, Christopher Clabough, Conner Clabough, Daulton (Aprile) Foster, Danielle Foster, Hayley (Kelsie) Gibson, Hope Gibson, Joshua Sizemore, Spoony Sizemore, Ashleigh Graves, Barron Hairy, Avery Hairy, Lawson Helton, Lake Helton, Hunter (Hannah) Sockwell and Parker Sockwell; great great grandchildren, Lou Anna Brown; sister-in-law, Imogene Richards of Epworth, GA; and brother-in-law, Chuck Mote of Cumming, GA; and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were conducted on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Scott Graves officiating. A eulogy was provided by Buck Newby. Interment followed in the Crestlawn Cemetery with the following grandsons serving as pallbearers: Jamison Ballew, Chad Newby, Channing Ballew, Chris Clabough, Daulton Foster, Conner Clabough, Spoony Sizemore, Joshua Sizemore and Pacey Ballew. Memorial Contributions may be made to The Gideons International at www.gideons.org. Condolences may be sent to the family online at akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge, GA was in charge of the arrangements. . Visitation Akins Funeral Home - Blue Ridge Saturday, February 29, 2020 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM 7871 Blue Ridge DriveBlue Ridge, Georgia 30513 Directions Funeral Service Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge Chapel Saturday, February 29, 2020 2:00 PM 7871 Blue Ridge DriveBlue Ridge, GA 30513 Directions