Mr. Arnold Lee Banks, 76, of Ellijay, passed away peacefully Monday, June 6, 2022, at Piedmont Mountainside Hospital of Ellijay surrounded by family and friends.
He was born in Gilmer County Aug. 30, 1945, or Aug. 31, 1945, according to which documents you were looking at. It was always a joke in the family it took a day for it to get recorded at the courthouse.
He was born to Dennis H. Banks and Ola Sanford Banks. He had many jobs in his life. One he is most remembered by was custodian and bus driver at Ellijay Elementary School in the 1970s.
He was a member of Flat Branch Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by wife, Margaret May Banks; father, Dennis Banks; mother, Ola Banks; and brother, Donnie Banks.
He is survived by sons, John (Regina) Banks, of Jasper, Lee Pierce (fiancée Rhonda Kendall), Shannon (Lauree) Pierce, all of Ellijay; daughters, Melissa (Gary) Tinnell, Linda (Johnny) Burnette and Staci (Greg) McClure, all of Ellijay; special friend, Rhonda Doss; brothers, JT Banks, of Dalton, DL (Wilma) Banks, of Ellijay; sisters, Virginia (Jackie) Wyatt, of Chatsworth, and Margaret (Johnny) Weathers, of Dalton; grandchildren, Mason and Rachel Banks, Derek Burnette, Brooke Padgett, Kyle (Bryant) Hester, Alec and Luke McClure, Candice (Josh) Chancey, Jacob Pierce (Elizabeth Teague), Heather Pierce, Mandy (Josh) Bryant, Will Ward (Kennedi), Margaret (Maggie) Pierce (fiancée Kyle Rhinehard); honorary grandchildren, Mekayla (Isaac) Chastain, and Ashley Alvarado.
He was blessed with several great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He loved to be around children and did not meet a stranger.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2022, in the Bernhardt Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Adam Banks and the Rev. Billy Dotson officiating. Johnny Weathers led a prayer.
Music was by Angela Banks Miller.
Interment was in the Pleasant Grove Church Cemetery next to his wife, Margaret.
Pallbearers were Mason Banks, Derek Burnette, Kyle Hester, Luke McClure, Will Ward and Jacob Pierce. Honorary pallbearers include: Newell May and Greg McClure.
Donations can be made to the Pleasant Grove Cemetery Fund.
Bernhardt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.