Mattie Jane Banks

Mattie Jane Banks was born on January 6, 1911, in Louisiana, the daughter of Martha Mosley Bowie. She accepted Christ at a tender age, and united with Sweet Home Baptist Church in Prescott, Arkansas. She was affectionately called "Ant Mattie" by those who knew her. When her health failed, her neice Dorothy relocated her to Gurdon, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Sam Banks, brother, Leon Buckner; five sisters, Alethia Jones, Alma Mackie, Ethel Moore, Lueella Bowie and Anna Hughes. During her 97th season, on Monday, March 10, 2008, with Dorothy at her bedside she passed into Lord's embrace. Mrs. Banks leaves to cherish her memories: one sister, Alma Brown of Cleveland, Ohio; five nieces, Phyllis Ann Dowel of Memphis, Tennessee, Cleo Hughes and Willie Mae Holt of Rockford, Illinois, Betty Ann Cole and Dorothy Hughes of Gurdon, Arkansas; one nephew, Daniel Hughes of Rockford, Illinois. A homegoing celebration will be held in the sanctuary of Sweet Home Baptist Church in Prescott, Arkansas at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2008. Rev. Charles Young will preach the celebration message. The committal service and final resting place will be in Sweet Home Cemetery in Prescott, Arkasnas located adjacent to the church. You may visit Mrs. Banks from 12:00 noon until 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home, 1517 Caddo Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Active bearers of the casket will be Michael Alexander, Robert Alexander, Bobby Ray Allen, Ray Craven, Michael Hughes, and Earnest Young.