Ballard Preston Wood of Smithfield died July 20, 2018, after a long illness.  Ballard was preceded in death by his son, Robert Ashton Wood; his parents and two brothers.  Ballard is survived by his wife of 47 years, Jo Ann Lewis Wood; their children, Sheri Wood Ducharme of Nags Head, N.C. and Michael Roane Wood of Smithfield; grandchild, Richard Mathieu Ducharme (Alison), and Evan Preston Ducharme, both of Santa Cruz, Calif.; Derek Michael Wood of Hatteras, N.C. and Bryan Andrew Williams of Whidbey Island, Wash.; and great-grandchildren Charlotte and Bennett Ducharme, of Santa Cruz, Calif.  Ballard is also survived by his nephew, Reginald V. Wood (Anne Marie) of Roanoke and numerous nieces and nephews. Ballard was born in 1928, raised in Salem and graduated from Andrew Lewis High School.  Ballard served in the U.S. Navy and graduated from Hampden Sydney College and Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he received his law degree.  Ballard practiced law on the Peninsula and in Smithfield until he retired in 2000. He was recently honored by the Virginia State Bar Association for more than 50 years of service.  A memorial service will be held at Benn’s United Methodist Church on Friday July 27 at 11 a.m.  The family will receive friends immediately after the service at the fellowship hall.  Memorial donations should be made to Benn’s United Methodist Church or a charity of choice.  On-line condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com.