Lillie Mae Ballard, age 71, of Charlotte, passed away on May 10 after a long illness.     She is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Dalton of Seattle and Rhonda Hedspeth of Charlotte, and two nephews, Brian and Brigham Hedspeth.    

A memorial gathering will be held in early June.     Details will be available at Warlick Funeral Home's website.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Hospice of North Carolina.

Lilli Mae  grew up in Lincolnton and, after graduating from Lincolnton High School in 1965, pursued her dream of being a registered nurse.     She had a fulfilling career at Presbyterian Medical Center that spanned 37 years and included many honors and accomplishments, including overseeing the opening of the first Oncology Unit at Presbyterian.

She was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, friend and caregiver to many.   She was loved by everyone who had the good fortune to know her and she will forever be in our hearts.