MADISON – Madison Street Festival’s overall atmosphere is one of carefree fun, but the event also entails causes for the community’s quality of life, especially the Elbert Balch Memorial Blood Drive.

“Every year, our country struggles to keep up with blood supply to save lives. When someone gives blood in honor of Elbert, they help to save lives. That’s beautiful to MSF,” MSF President Crystal McBrayer said.

“Elbert started donating blood in 1974 after the horrible tornados,” his wife Opie Balch said. He was a regular donor until nine years ago when he was diagnosed with cancer. “Elbert battled cancer for seven years before he passed away in June 2022.”

Because of receiving transfusions and plasma, Elbert achieved more time with his family and could live much longer. “Our family is very appreciative of that extra time,” Opie said.

Elbert and Opie worked on committees and supported Madison Street Festival since 2010 when they moved their office to downtown Madison. “When Elbert passed away, the MSF committee approached the family and asked if we would help with the blood drive,” Opie said.

“The reason we do the blood drive is because Elbert loved the Madison Street Festival. His whole family are avid supporters of MSF and what our mission is,” McBrayer said.

“We started the drive in 2022 as a way for MSF to honor him and allow the community to honor him,” McBrayer said. “While he was sick, he also was an avid supporter of LifeSouth Community Blood Centers and giving blood. It just made sense for us to implement the drive into the MSF footprint each year.”

“Every year, we hit records with the amount of blood given. LifeSouth will again have two buses at the festival for 2024,” McBrayer said. Matthew Balch, Elbert’s son, said his family is excited “and working towards raising the number of donations again this year.”

2024 marks the third year for the blood drive. “Hopefully, the best!” Opie said.

“We at LifeSouth are eagerly looking forward to MSF once again. The drive is making a huge impact in the community blood supply in the name of Mr. Elbert Balch,” Melanie Calnan said. Calnan works as LifeSouth Donor Recruiter, North Alabama Region. “Thank you to the Balch family and all of those who help to make this drive a success.”

That success in the inaugural year, 2022, included 50 donations on one LifeSouth bus. In the second year, LifeSouth added a second bus and received 70 donations. “Several donors gave the (next) week because the train had blocked the street. Donors couldn’t reach the bus,” Opie said.

“We’ll will have two buses again in 2024 in the same location beside Animal Trax,” Calnan said. A donation requires approximately 30 minutes.

Elbert Balch was born September 10, 1947, as a fourth-generation Madison Countian. After graduation from Lee High School, Elbert was drafted and served three years in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Entering college on the G.I. Bill, Elbert started at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After a 30-year career, he retired from AT&T Marketing and opened Powertel Cell Phone stores in North Alabama.

“When Powertel was sold, he joined me to start Opie Balch Realty in 2010 in historic downtown Madison,” Opie said.

Constantly active in the community, Elbert joined Jaycees and Civitans, engaged in local politics, worked at the polls and served many years with Madison Historic Commission and Madison Cemetery Committee. He also held membership in Madison Chamber of Commerce, Madison Station Historical Preservation Society, Huntsville Board of Realtors and state/national associations of Realtors.

“Elbert was a huge Alabama fan,” Opie said, “and active in our local church.”

“My dad used his obituary to ask people, in lieu of flowers, to donate to LifeSouth,” Matthew said. “My dad was a great man, and I miss him every day.”

Matthew reminisces . . . like “the time when I was a kid, and he let me ride on the bushhog. I broke my ankle. When asked why ‘I was on a farming implement’ by the nurse, dad said, ‘Because there were rattlesnakes in the pasture.’”

“When I got results of my bar exam, he was moving a refrigerator into a rental property in Limestone County. I called to tell him I had passed the bar and was now a licensed attorney. He answered the phone, breathing heavily.

“Hello?” Elbert said. “’I PASSED’ was what I shouted. He said ‘OK,’ and hung up. I was confused why he was so dismissive,” Matthew said.

“Thirty minutes later, his truck pulled up with a case of Coors Light. We hugged and cried. I’m fairly confident that zero statutes related to operating a vehicle at or under posted limits were observed as he came to celebrate with me,” Matthew said.

Matthew remembers renovations/restoration and cutting grass with his father at 106 Main Street, 14 Martin Street and 304 Church Street for the family’s realty and law offices. At 106 Main, Elbert steadied a ladder while Matthew was hanging ‘his shingle’ when a passerby asked, “One of y’all the lawyer?” “I then drafted that gentleman’s will. Several years later, I assisted his estate when he passed. My dad always reminded me that he ‘got me my first client,’” Matthew said.

“My dad taught me how to do so many things . . . back a boat trailer, spool a weedeater, hook the lip of a bass, clean a dove and a deer, hold the door open for others, tell someone that the meal was delicious and that I appreciated it, root on the Tide, make sure the hubs were greased on the trailer and remember it doesn’t matter if the person you’re talking to is a senator or a janitor . . . treat them the same,” Matthew said. “The list goes on and on.”

“Elbert’s final wishes . . . were to remind everyone that it doesn’t cost a thing to be kind,” Matthew said.

“If my children consider me one-tenth the father to them that my dad was to me, I’m doing a damn fine job,” Matthew said.

Elbert and Opie were married 50 years and are parents of four children. Amy Balch lives in Madison. Ashley Blackwell and husband Josh of Madison are parents of 14-year-old Reagan and 10-year-old Savannah. Ashley is Associate Broker for Opie Balch Realty; Josh works as a contractor in Cummings Research Park. Matthew Balch and wife Natalie of Madison are parents of Emma, 12; Annie, 11; and Axel, 8. Matthew is an attorney; Natalie is a licensed counselor. Tiffany Morris, a real estate agent, and husband Steve live in Crossville, Tennessee.

At MSF, blood donors will receive a T-shirt and gift certificate. Individuals can reserve a donation appointment on October 5 at MSF. Email mdcalnan@lifesouth.org, or visit donors.lifesouth.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/828318.

For more festival information, visit madisonstreetfestival.org.