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Veda Diane Balla
Born: 5/4/1946
Died: 1/28/2025
Age: 78
Community: Flint, MI
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Veda Diane Balla (previously Pesda, nee Gillmore) passed away after a sudden illness on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025. Veda was a well-beloved fixture in many communities of the area, contributing as a musician and music director to several local churches including Holy Redeemer, St. Mary's, St. Andrew's, Our Lady of Lebanon, and many others. She was also an involved member of the Flint community in general.
A woman of deep faith, she was a tireless advocate for animals in general, but especially cats. In the 1990s, she established Tenth Life, Inc. -- a no-kill shelter where abandoned and surrendered cats were fostered in a home environment to prepare them for adoption. The number of rescues and placements she facilitated is in the thousands, easily. There are many cats that would have been forgotten or abandoned that were able to enjoy forever placements due to her efforts. as well as many that were TNRs. She employed a number of creative fundraisers for the organization over the years, including brass concerts, swing dances with a full band with her at the microphone singing the standards, as well as holiday parties at the Tenth Life House.
Veda was born on May 4, 2025 in Flint to Veda Frances and Wayne Gillmore. She graduated high school and moved to the Detroit area, where she instructed ballroom dance for Arthur Murray Studios in Detroit. There, she also sang with the Michigan Opera Theatre, the Meadowbrook Festival Chorus, and numerous area churches and Synagogues including St. Aloysius and Fort Street Presbyterian. She had a light, coloratura soprano voice, beloved by many for her delicate interpretations. She taught piano, voice, and guitar in private lessons in the Detroit area for a number of years, moving back to the Flint area in 1979 in order to look after her mother Veda Frances.
Veda was also deeply involved and committed to Native causes and issues, being of Choctaw heritage. She dedicated herself to working for native peoples at the Flint Indian Center (Ashidinabe Aki), as well as working for the Indian Health Center in Detroit.
She returned to school, got her Bachelor's of Education from the University of Michigan Flint, and took on the position of Program Director for Indian Education with Flint Schools. She stayed with the position, opening up the program's benefits to many that may not have previously qualified, and then closing down the office as part of her departure from Flint Schools.
Veda touched many hundreds, If not thousands of lives through her many years of service, dedication, and advocacy for those that often had no voice. Yet, she gleefully lifted her voice up to God, happily employing her many talents to the Glory of Creation.
She is survived by her daughter, Monica Witt, and grandson Phillip R Witt. May she rest in peace, knowing that she accomplished so much for the voiceless with her own beautiful voice. |
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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2/22/2025 |
| Time: |
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12:00 PM |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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2/22/2025 |
| Time: |
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1:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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Holy Redeemer Church
1227 E. Bristol Road
Burton, MI 48529Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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Fr. Georges Bidzogo |
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