Born in Stephens County, GA, Russell Marion (1893-

1962) was the sixth child of Thomas Marion and

Georgia DeLura. He was named Russell to honor the

memory of an infant brother, Russell Felton, who died at

the age of nine months. The middle name, Marion, hon-ored his father, and continued a tradition established for

generations earlier by Ralph, Sr.

Raised near the foothills of Currahee Mountain, Marion,

as he was known, attended Stephens County schools and

a finishing school in Hiawassee, GA, where he received

his teaching certificate. But rather than teach school, he moved to Birmingham, AL, where he began his working

career as a streetcar conductor. This was interrupted,

however, when he volunteered for service in the U.S.

Army as the United States entered World War I. He

was trained for the infantry and assigned to an all-

southern division, known as the Rainbow Division. Serv-

ing in the

trenches of

France, Marion

was promoted

to the rank of

sergeant.

An economic

boom followed

the war and jobs

were abundant.

Marion returned

to Birmingham

and applied for a

job with South-

ern Railway.

Needing a place

to live he soon

found a room for rent. It was in the residence of Sydney Millican and his wife Katherine—

the parents of ten girls and a boy. Needless to say Mr. Millican cast a suspicious eye on the

stranger who wished to occupy a room under his roof—Marion Banks. But all was well

and it was but a short time that the tenant was attracted to the young daughter of his land-

Remembering Marion & Bessie Banks by Charles Banks

BANKS Winter-Spring

2011

The Thomas Marion Banks

Cousins Face Book Page is up

and running!

Let me know if you’d like to be

added as a member!

Continued page 2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Remembering Marion & P.2

The BIG Snow Event! P.3

News from the Byrum branch P.3

Pictures from Banks Reunion P.4

Contact me with your news!!

Donna Banks Dodd

3425 Spinnaker Way

Acworth, GA 30102

678-574-7071

Next Reunion—Sunday, October 9

Cemetery clean— Saturday, October 8

Winter-Spring 2011 Page 2

lord. With permission of Mr. Millican, Marion began courting his fourth daughter, Annie Elizabeth, who was known by family

and friends as “Bessie.” The courtship of Russell Marion and Bessie Millican blossomed and it became apparent

that the young couple was destined to marry.

Having been reared in the Baptist faith, Marion found no conflict with Bessie’s faith and they were married in St. Paul Catholic

Church in May 1920. With the exception of four years spent in Anniston, AL, his entire working career was spent in Birming-

ham. During the early years of their marriage, he and Bessie proudly walked with their young family to Sunday mass, a distance

of about three miles. It was not until 1950 that Marion, along with daughter-in-law Mary Francis (Peggy), took lessons in Ca-

tholicism and was baptized in the faith. Marion and Bessie’s lives were centered on their family, their Church, and his job with

the railroad. They both possessed a strong Christian faith and instilled that faith in their family. They remained members of St.

Paul throughout their lifetime. Russell Marion and Annie Elizabeth are buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, AL.

Contributed by the late Thomas Sidney Banks and brother Gerald Knox (Peter) Banks

Aunt Bessie and mother (Susie Banks) were like sisters. Since

they both had railroad passes they would visit each other once or

twice a year. By the time I was 15, Bessie's visits became more

important to me--I became her designated driver. We had one

Catholic church, located on the edge of town, and I got to chauffer

Aunt Bessie to and from mass. Charles Banks

When Uncle Marion and Aunt Bessie visited they would sit up

half the night with our parents, drinking pots of coffee while Uncle

Marion and daddy smoked their pipes. And invariably Uncle

Marion would lose his pipe and pay me a quarter to help him find

it. Sometimes when they visited I could count on making 75 cents,

or if I was lucky, a dollar. George Banks

Remembering Papa My own mother died when I was 15, and Tom and I married

just two years later when I was 17. Papa and Bessie took

over raising me, as I was still very much in need of guidance at

that young age.

I remember one thing in particular that impressed me from the

beginning, and that was Papa’s concern for his siblings. Aunt

Ophelia’s son, Bill K. was living with them at that time. I remem-

ber when Sara Sue Terrell brought Aunt Alice and Uncle Alec to

visit, and when Aunt Bertie’s four children came to visit. I later

got to meet the rest

of the family (except

John) when we

started attending

the reunions.

I feel truly blessed

to be a part of this

wonderful family,

and our children

share that same love

for our family

heritage!

Standing: Russ Banks, Tom Banks, Anne Smaha, Trey Banks,

Peggy Banks, Delayne Banks, Tom Banks. Kneeling/seated:

Elise Bethune, Aunt Bessie, Ed Banks and Chris Banks

Tom & Peggy Banks

News from the Byrum Branch! Our youngest son Seth Byrum is on his way to Iwakuni, Japan for a six

month deployment with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533. He and

the squadron should return home sometime in July. Bruce Byrum

Seth in his flight suit

Seth in his dress-blues with wife, Brandi

Winter-Spring 2011 Page 3

Georgia’s Big Snow Event—2011 By Charles Honea, Husband to Elaine Banks Honea

We could not remember a snow this deep. I do remember back when Elaine and I first married in 1969, there was

a good snow. Lanny, Elaine and I borrowed a metal Coca-Cola sign from our landlord/neighbor the Smith's. We had

so much fun that day, zooming over the terraces in Vernor Bank's pasture. Inches away from 40

mph snow runs was our backyard Disney World. Wet, cold and soaked we relented to returning

the makeshift toboggan missile to the barn it came from. How much did it cost? Not one dime, just a

couple of PLEASES and THANK YOUS!

History was about to repeat itself. Elaine had purchased new plastic snow sleds for our younger grandkids.

At about midday, Joshua ventured out next door from us to test his sled. It's hard to have fun by yourself so

grandpa decided to join in.

Elaine had found some old vinyl rug scrap, so rather than pasteboard, I used that as my sled. Maybe it's the ex-

tra weight I've put on over the years, cause that rug would fly. Thoughts of landing in the fence after a sled run

was not much fun so we took on the big challenge, the pasture. The problem with pasture sledding is you

never know where you will land. Landing inches away from cow piles, just added to the fun and laughter. Alas,

my farming skills came to light when a blackberry briar caught my face and scratched it. “Ok, it's not fun any-

more. I've had enough, Joshua, I'm going to the house”. "Thank's Pa, for sledding with me", Joshua said. “You’re

welcome, Joshua”, as I headed home. What did it cost? A half an hour of TV watching or computer punching. What Pa did gain was

PRICELESS!

I tried

to warn

you!!

Left to right: George Banks, Lanny Banks, Becky Dixon, Rusty Terrell,

Norma Banks and Eddie Banks

The Dedicated Cemetery Cleanup Crew from the 2010 Reunion

Winter-Spring 2011 Page 4

Family Fun at the 75th Reunion of the Thomas Marion Banks Family!

Blake Banks; Taylor Coles; Bambi Banks Hoitt with (baby) Lilly Raine, Gabe & Abby; Katrina Honea Spencer with Lexie and Jordan; Alicia Terrell Speers with Kinsey

and Brianna; Megan and Lauren Banks; La’el, Sandy Ankerich and Joshua

David Byrum &

Grace Byrum Mitchell

Joan Lovingood, Bob King, Charles Banks,

Truitt Banks, Thomas Dixon, Annette Banks Norman,

George Banks, Jeri Stapleton

Charles Honea, Starke Lovingood,

Ron Mitchell, Loretta Byrun, Tommy

Dodd, Evelyn Banks, Susan King,

Ginger Dixon, Howard Norman

Donna Banks Dodd, Eddie Banks,

Michael Banks, Susan Banks Banbury,

Diane Banks Leonard, Elaine Banks

Honea, Bill Banks, Becky Dixon, Rusty

Terrell, David Byrum, Tim Dixon,

Grace Byrum Mitchell