Age 89, Elkton, Va.
Edith M. Jones Banks of Elkton, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the University of Virginia Medical Center. She was 89.
Mrs. Banks was born on February 20, 1935 in Shenandoah, Virginia. She was the daughter of the late Bennie Whitley Jones and Gennet Brown Jones. She graduated from Lucy Sims High School in 1953 and left Shenandoah to pursue a musical career in Northern Virginia. She worked various jobs to support her dream, then returned to Shenandoah. She went to work cleaning homes for various families in the community. She soon met and married Garfield Earnest Banks, Sr. on June 8, 1963.
Mrs. Banks and her husband Garfield traveled for several years during his 24 years in the Army raising their three children. Upon Garfield’s retirement, they returned to the Shenandoah Valley. Mrs Banks was a loving and devoted wife to her husband and mother to her three children and was affectionately known as “Bammie” to her beloved grandchildren. She had a passion for music, and really enjoyed cooking, and welcoming people to share her hospitality.
A devoted woman of God, Mrs. Banks was a dedicated member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Shenandoah. She was the Mother of the Church, the president of the Church Choir, in charge of the Benevolence Fund, and a member the Hospitality Committee. She richly enjoyed traveling and singing with the Choir to support many of the surrounding community churches during revivals, as well as singing at many area nursing homes. Her rich Alto voice brought a depth to the choir on many songs and was greatly missed when she could no longer participate.
During her leisure time, Mrs. Banks enjoyed sewing, making and altering clothes for many members of the family, quilting to include many blankets and various small patchworks that she gave as gifts. She especially loved spending time with her family and friends, attending sporting events and other activities to support her grandkids.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Banks was preceded in death by her brothers Ernest Jones and wife Demetrius, James Jones, William Jones, Charles Jones Sr. and wife Geneva and former wife Eleanor, Owen Jones and wife Oletha, and Tommy Jones, her sisters Lula Jones, Dorothy Moton and husband Alfonzo Sr, Wanda Lawson and husband Joshua, and Shirley Toliver, and her best friend LaFrances Brown.
Mrs. Banks is survived by two daughters and a son, Genetta M. “Genny” Banks, Jacqueline D. “Jackie” Sweet-Day, and Garfield E. Banks, Jr., all of Elkton, VA. Also surviving are her three grandchildren, Teriek Sweet, Jaiden Sweet, and Jacarrah Sweet-Day, who were the pride of her life. She is also survived by a sister, Margert Wright and husband Victor of Rock Island, IL.; a brother-in-law, Bennie Toliver of Elkton, VA; sisters-in-law, Beatrice Jones of Culpeper, VA, and Barbara Jones of Harrisonburg, VA, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The Rev. Michael Turner, the Rev. Theresa Woodson and the Rev. William Grant will conduct the funeral service at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2024, at Kyger Funeral Home in Elkton. Interment will follow at Mt. Paran Baptist Church Cemetery. A repass will follow the burial at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church social hall located in the Naked Creek area of Shenandoah.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at the funeral home, 115 Nicholson Road, in Elkton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elkton Area United Services, 149 W. Spotswood Ave., Elkton, Virginia 22827
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