Martha Phillips Ballew

Martha Phillips Ballew was born on August 19, 1956 in Tuscumbia, AL, the baby girl of Lloyd and Martha Dean Phillips. She graduated from Deshler High School in Tuscumbia, AL. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Montevallo, and her Master of Education from Vanderbilt University.

Martha relocated to Nashville, TN where she met and married her husband Kenneth Ballew in 1987. They joyfully welcomed their beautiful daughter, Claire Ballew, in 1990.

For the past thirty years, she worked at the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital as a pediatric GI dietician. Martha was absolutely devoted to her work and to the children of VCH. She was nationally respected as an expert in her field and mentored professionals all over the country. Her intelligence, wisdom and leadership have left a wonderful legacy.

Martha’s friends and family knew her kindness, joy and patience. Her sense of humor and wit offered a light to those around her.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Martha Dean Phillips and father, Lloyd Phillips.

She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Ballew; daughter, Claire Ballew; step-daughter, Anne Ballew Friedland (Mike); brother, Joe Phillips (Gloria); nephew, Andy Phillips (Aiden, Max, Carolyn Alexis, and their mother Lisa Phillips); niece, Amanda Allotta (Joe and their children Sicily, Venice, and Roman); nephew, Ben; and niece Emily Pinkham (David and their children Lilly, Olive, Willow, Eden, Reuben, and Deacon).

She is deeply missed by her family, friends, and colleagues.

A scholarship fund in Martha's honor is being set up by Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the fund. Details on fund will be forthcoming.

Martha Ballew Memorial Educational Fund

The Martha Ballew Memorial Educational Fund (in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center) has been established to honor Martha Ballew’s memory as a nutritionist, educator and mentor. The fund will benefit the continuing education of nutritionists in the field of pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology.

Please see the various options below to make a gift.

Online:

VanderbiltHealth.org/giving Linkhttps://give.vanderbilthealth.org/give/197783/?utm_source=ium=website&utm_content=homepg#!/donation/checkout?c_src=1680A&c_src2=websitehome

After clicking the link, please check the box - “Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone”. The Honoree’s name will be requested. Please enter “The Martha Ballew Memorial Educational Fund”

To make a gift by phone, please call 800-288-0028.

To make a gift by check, please send a check made payable to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to:

Vanderbilt University Medical Center Development

Gift and Donor Services

3322 West End Avenue, Suite 900

Nashville, TN 37203

Please include a note with the check or indicate on the memo line that the gift is made in memory of Martha Ballew (“The Martha Ballew Memorial Educational Fund”).