Margaret Lee Melton Ballerini Harbert, 83, was called to her Heavenly home on Saturday, September 14, 2024, surrounded by her loving family and caring Hospice nurse, Brenda.

Margaret was born May 6, 1941, in Caldwell County to the late ParaLee Alice Walsh Richards and the late Harold Eugene Melton. Her stepdad was the late Frank Clinton Richards.

Margaret is survived by her devoted husband, Ronald Paul Harbert of Lenoir, to whom she was married on February 15, 2020. Cherishing her memory are her children, Richard Lee Ballerini of Lenoir and Denise Michele (David) Kerley of Taylorsville, her step-children, Christopher Leo Harbert and Linda "Rae" Cable, her adoring (and adored) grandchildren, Frankie Lee Ballerini of Boyds, MD and Tyler George Ballerini of Frederick, MD, her brother, Thomas Eugene "Gene" Melton of Annapolis, MD and her beloved pet dwarf rabbit, Prince, who brought her many moments of laughter and joy. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law, sister-in-law and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Other than her parents and stepdad, she was preceded in death by her husband, William Robert Ballerini and sisters-in-law, Charlotte Faye Melton, Elizabeth B. "Betty" Gatty and Gloria A. Bauer.

Margaret was an amazing and incredible woman who had courageously battled glioblastoma cancer since October 2023. She attended High Point High School in Prince Georges County in MD and graduated in 1959. She met her first husband Bill while working as a secretary at the Department of Commerce in Washington, DC. They were married February 3, 1962 and his death broke a marital union of more than 53 years. Throughout her life, Margaret also worked as a "Mom's day out" daycare employee, and she worked at Belk Department Store and at Garon's Jewelry, both in Lenoir. When her mother became ill, she quit work and became a dedicated and remarkable caregiver for her Mom, husband Bill, stepdad Frank and Aunt Helen Walsh. Margaret was an original member of the "OP7" or Ocean Pines 7 that included her husband, William, best friend Sandy Moores and her former husband Wes, brother Gene and his wife Charlotte and good friend Johnny Ackerman. Margaret had a dynamic personality and was loved by so many whether they met her at work or at church, out shopping, eating at 1841 Cafe, or while attending the annual Walsh Reunion.  Margaret enjoyed listening to music by Tom Jones, Chris Trapper and Keith Urban and enjoyed watching the Magnolia Channel, HGTV, Atlanta Braves baseball and Carolina Hurricanes hockey. Margaret was talented at cooking, baking, cross-stitch, gardening, crochet and wreath making. She converted to Catholicism and was an active and dedicated member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, and was an Emmaus sister.

The family wishes to give a heart-felt THANK YOU to the staff and nurses at Amorem Hospice Care of Caldwell County. We are grateful for the magnificent care that Margaret received. The family would also like to thank Dr. Kays and the staff at Hudson Primary Care, Dr. Hathorn and Dr. Holland and the staff at McCreary Cancer Center, Dr. Kaplan and the staff at FryeCare Orthopedics and Neurosurgery and Dr. Duggan and Dr. Woodbury and the staff at Caldwell Wound Center.

Members of the family will receive friends on Friday, September 20, 2024 from 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. A funeral mass will follow starting at 12:00 P.M. with Father Alfonso Gamez officiating. Burial will be held at Blue Ridge Memorial Park.

Pallbearers are Frankie Ballerini, Tyler Ballerini, Chris Harbert, Gene Melton, Tommy Melton and Ken Zufall. Honorary pallbearers are all male members of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Margaret's memory to Amorem Hospice, 902 Kirkwood St NW, Lenoir, NC 28645; or St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 328-B Woodsway Ln NW, Lenoir, NC 28645.

Online condolences may be left at www.greer-mcelveenfuneralhome.com

Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the Harbert family.