William Steven Balton

William Steven Balton, 52, a resident of Dothan passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at a local hospital.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park with Robert Byrd directing. The family will receive friends from 12-1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

William Steven Balton was born on April 8, 1964 to the late George S. Balton and Brenda R. Ford in Washington, D.C. Raised in D.C., he graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School, did a short stent in the Navy and upon his return home, took an opportunity as a Teacher’s Aide at Nannie Helen Burroughs private elementary school. In 1986 he was a victim of a robbery which left him physically paralyzed.

In 1987 he, along with his mother and little sister, gave up the big city and relocated to Dothan, Alabama. Dothan would never be the same! Steve had an unconquerable spirit and a brilliant mind. He won the hearts of so many with his dapper nature, quick wit, and charm. Though paralyzed in body, his mind was sharp and vast with knowledge that left many in awe. In many ways, he shared his love of knowledge and his desire to raise people up in the form of tutoring grade school and college students, financial advising, words of encouragement and wisdom, and sharing God’s word. As one of his caregiver’s shared – “so many times I came to work depressed, he would encourage and lift me up. I never met anyone like him. There he was in a wheelchair, helping me.” This example would not shock those who knew him well. He refused to let his physical condition diminish him. He lived looking up and wanted all to do the same. He found comfort and strength from the Torah (first five books of the bible) and studied it intently – living devoutly in honor of Yahweh, keeping the Sabbath, dietary laws and other holy days.

He was a self-taught scholar; a poet, a writer (he even had a book accepted for publication), political activist, advocate for disabled and African-American rights and the only person we knew personally who could answer most questions on Jeopardy!

Left to cherish his memory are his mother and step-father, Brenda and Larry Ford; sister, Charlotte Balton-Hicks (Mark); brother, Kenneth Balton; sisters Lela Cooper (Art) and April Potter; step-brother, Larry Ford, step-sister, Vanessa Majdoub; brother-n-law, Lawrence Baylor (Rhonda), many nieces, nephews, extended family and amazing friends. He was preceded in death by his father, George Balton and sister, Rhonda Baylor.

Robert Byrd of Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home (334) 983-6604 www.SunsetMemorialPark.com