Mrs. Adelaide Gaither Banks, 60, died Dec. 23 after a lengthy illness. She was born June 22, 1937 to the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry (Minnie) Gaither in Newton County. She was a graduate of Washington Street High School as salutatorian of her class. She went on to attend Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, where she received her LPN. Mrs. Banks worked at Newton General, Hercules and later retired from Emory University at Oxford. She was a life-long resident of Newton County and worked her until her health began to fail. She was devoted to her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandson, David Cooksey Jr.
Surviving are her husband, Cleo Banks; four children, Henry James Cooksey, David (Shirley) Cooksey, Kevin (Jennifer) Banks, Michael (Nichelle) Banks, Dan Cooksey, Greg (LaToya) Ivey; brothers, Charles (Amma Lou) Gaither, David (Dora) Gaither, Henry (Delois) Gaither; sister, Annie Downing; aunt, Mattie Kelly; brothers-in-law, Ed Banks, Felix (Louise) Banks; sisters-in-law, Minnie Mae Weaver, Lillie Pearl Cornwell, Martha Banks, Ravis (Vera) Freeman; eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Services were held Friday, Dec. 28 at Rust Chapel United Methodist Church in Oxford with the Rev. Quincy Felder officiating. Interment followed at Oxford Historical Cemetery.
