JACQUELINE BANKS

The unique soul of Jacqueline La'Monte Johnson Banks was a gift of love born to Walter B. Johnson and Imogene Clyde Williams on August 25, 1946 in Fort Worth, Texas. Raised in good faith, baptized and trained up in the Gospel at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church under the stewardship of Pastor Albert E. Chew, she wasted no time quickly honing and developing her skills in the church’s hospitality ministries, often visiting the sick and shut in, as well as in lending her voice of praise in the church’s choir.

After graduating with the class of 1964 from Kirkpatrick High School, a segregated black school on the North Side of Fort Worth, the former majorette would go on to college, leading to a life of service to the communities of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and Houston and the state of Texas as well.

“Jacky”,as she was known, brought life and beauty to the community she served trailblazing a path for black women. She headed up a nonprofit organization, “Over the Hill”, dedicated to AIDS testing and outreach, bringing hope to “the least of these”,and transitioning many back to viability and vitality. Through her selfless service and tireless efforts, she helped change attitudes, hearts and lives.

Not to be outdone, her love for the arts with a passion for broadening horizons and being a conduit through the Fort Worth Symphony,she brought the classics to the youth of DFW  through a program called, “Symphony in the Park”. Always crossing boundaries and creating expanding possibilities in her own life as well as others, she gave birth to Mikaela (Wade) Raine and Jeanne Michelle (Wade) Spencer through her marriage to O.Z. Wade (deceased) and Mia (Banks) Walker and Mark Banks through her marriage to Jimmy Banks (deceased).

Ever the progressive business woman, Jacky would see her life’s work lead to her opening her own boutique in south Houston, where she pioneered popular flip flop designs and denim jackets alongside her daughters and provided clothing for women who were out of work and needing work clothes for job interviews. And finally, providing second chances in life with Texas Department of Corrections in the department of pardons and paroles.

After retiring in 2016, she returned to Fort Worth to spend more time with family and pursue her hobbies of reading, gardening, movies, family and friends. She never met a stranger and always made do.

She leaves behind a world much brighter than what she found and a host of family and friends much better for having known her. She will be missed.  She leaves to cherish her memories:

Her Loving Father:  Walter Johnson (Hazel)

Her Lovely Daughters:  Mikaela Raine (Rob Nebe), Michelle Spencer (Winston) and Mia Schwalm-Walker (Rufus)

Her Handsome Son:  Mark Banks (Jessica)

Her 14 Precious Grandchildren and 14 Adorable Great Grandchildren

Her Siblings:  Glenn Simpson Sr. (Vanessa) and Inga Trapp

She also leaves to cherish her memory: A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and many more special friends.

Preceded her in death:

Mother: Imogene Wilson and Bonus Mother: Louise Johnson

Aunt & Uncle:  Madeline and Frank Burke

Cousin:  Donald Tavie