Florence Ballard her suit. Angered, Gordy ordered her to return to Detroit, and Birdsong officially replaced her, abruptly ending her tenure with the Supremes. It had been decided as early as May that Birdsong would be Ballard's official replacement once Birdsong's contract with the Bluebelles was bought out. In August 1967, the "Detroit Free Press" reported that Ballard had taken a temporary leave of absence from the group due to "exhaustion". Ballard eventually married her boyfriend, Thomas Chapman, on February 29, 1968. A week earlier, on February 22, Ballard and Motown negotiated to have Ballard released from the label. Her attorney in
Carol Ballard own business, Kite Books, which produces worksheets and teachers' resources. Carol Ballard Carol Ballard is an author of more than 80 non-fiction books. Specializing in informational books for children and teens, her focus is toward the 7- to 14-year-old group. After graduating from Leeds University in plant sciences, Ballard did post-graduate research and was awarded a PhD in Immunology. She has many years experience as a science teacher and co-ordinator and has written articles for teachers on various aspects of science teaching, and teachers' materials for classroom use. In addition to her writing, Carol works as a freelance consultant for