Jennifer Mizelle
Jennifer (Joy) Ballog Mizelle, of Raleigh, NC, died Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at Duke Raleigh Hospital.
Jennifer was born February 22, 1973, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Virginia Smith Ballog and the late William Edward Ballog. A graduate of Chapel Hill High School, Jennifer studied child development at East Carolina University, earning her degree in Human Development and Family Relations, Child Development in 1995. She worked for a short time in personal childcare, later beginning a successful career in residential home sales. It was there that she met Michael Mizelle, who became her husband on November 3, 2001.
After several years in real estate, Jennifer pursued a degree in nursing. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fayetteville State University in 2011 and worked as a nurse in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Duke University Health System in Durham, North Carolina. She then worked as a nurse at the Duke Raleigh Cancer Center, and following a short stint as Clinical Coordinator at Rex Surgical Specialists, Jennifer returned to the Duke Raleigh Cancer Center as a nurse navigator until her death.
Jennifer was a wonderful, loving wife and a caring mother to her daughters Sydney and Vivian. She recognized the importance of nurturing their life skills, and she was a strong and dedicated supporter and advocate for them in their school programs and their sports and leisure activities. Whether helping Sydney as she competed in swim meets and volleyball games, or guiding Vivian in her competitive horse riding, Jennifer was always there to encourage the girls and cheer them on. Jennifer and her family loved spending time together on their winter ski trips and trips to the beach in the summer.
Survivors include her husband, Michael Mizelle; two daughters, Sydney Mizelle and Vivian Mizelle; mother, Virginia Mergner; sister, Pamela Paxton; mother-in-law, Shelby Mizelle; three brothers-in-law, Joel Mizelle, Randall Mizelle, and Garyn Mizelle; two nephews, Kevin Mizelle and Bennick Mizelle; and two nieces, Hayley Mizelle and Ella Kate Mizelle.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations to the Duke Raleigh Cancer Fund which provides assistance to patients and their families.
Here’s a link to copy and paste for donations: https://www.gifts.duke.edu/dukehealth/?designation=204600009
A Celebration of Life event will be held at Umstead Park UCC at 8208 Brownleigh Drive Raleigh, NC 27617 on Saturday, January 10th, 2026 from 1pm – 4pm.