Harry James Banks Sr.

Harry James Banks, Sr, son of the late Henry and Mary Banks was born August 14, 1946 in Mullen West Virginia. He departed this life after a lengthy illness on February 4, 2023.

Educated in Knoxville, Tennessee in the public school system, He graduated from Austin High School in June of 1965. While attending Austin High he majored in Engineering and played on the football team. Upon graduating he joined the United States Army and served two enlistments. His first enlisting was with the Core of Engineering in Vietnam and after that term, he was sent to Germany to become an operator of Crawler Tractors. During that time, his first wife Helen and their 2 children stayed with him. Because of his love for sports, in Germany he played football and boxed for the Army. He won many of his boxing matches and received medals for them. He returned to the states in 1974 and began working in the maintenance field in which he loved. He attended Logan Temple AME Church where he served in many capacities. Many Sundays you could hear his Bass voice throughout the church as he sang with the Voices of Inspiration.

In 1984 he moved from Knoxville to Maryland in search of better employment. He worked as a contractor for Murphy's Steak House rehabbing and repairing stores in the DMV area. Wanting to settle down and make a new life for himself, he searched for jobs in the Baltimore area that he loved the most - eventually landing a job with NHCP. He later became the Maintenance Supervisor with Clay Courts Apartments in 1987.

While attending a meeting for the workplace, he met the manager of another property and they began dating. That manager later became his wife. During their life together they were inseparable.

He rededicated his life to Christ and joined Christ United Methodist Church. He even sang with the Inspirational Voices of Christ. He later retired from being a maintenance supervisor, but that love for building things soon became his hobby. He called this his “Home Repair-ations”. Many people around him would hire him to build decks, lay floors, and other home improvements. Occasionally, you could find him bowling with the Holy Rollers, at church on Sunday morning, and occasionally out to a dance the night away.

As the years rolled along, he enjoyed the company of friends and family. He loved to watch his Raven, box along with the T.V. during a boxing match, make jokes, play games, advise on a home improvement, sing with the radio while doing his crossword and word find puzzles, and just be Pop-Pop.

He leaves to cherish his memory: His loving and devoted wife Debra Jester-Banks; children Nicole Banks Long (Stanley), Harry Banks, Jr (Latanya), Brianne Jester, Aaron Banks, and Candice Banks; siblings Roscoe Banks, Albert Banks, Virginia Banks, Juanita Banks, Maxine Banks, Carol Banks, and Racheal Banks who all preceded him in death, Ola Marie Mitchell and Marva Banks; sister in-law Helen Jester; grandchildren, Stanley Long, Jr, Erica Faulcon, Indyah Banks, Lamarcus Banks, KaiLynn Banks, KaRynn Banks, and Bryson Reed; along with a host of nieces, nephews, God-children, great-grandchild, family, friends and loved ones.