Obituary of Joyce Banks

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Joyce Banks, our loving and devoted mother, sister, and friend to all whose lives she touched on May 18, 2020. She left us while sleeping peacefully at her daughter’s residence in Wyandanch, New York. Joyce Banks was born on April 12,1941 at Metropolitan Hospital in Harlem to Daisy and Nathaniel Gibbs. She was the fourth child in a family of seven. Joyce was very popular as a teen. She was always friendly and outgoing. She attended Washington Irving High School and graduated in 1959. Joyce met and married John Banks Sr. on April 30, 1960. She worked as a secretary at Mt. Sinai, Macmillan Publishing company, NYC Medicaid, and St. Albans Baptist Church. They moved to St. Albans, Queens in 1966. Joyce Banks joined St. Albans Baptist Church in 1978 where she gave her life to Christ. Joyce was active in many church activities, she was on the trustee board, choir, praise dance ministry, Sunday school student, assisted in the food pantry and the helping hand ministry. She loved to dance and continued to do so as one of the oldest members of the St. Albans Baptist church dance ministry, the Women of Wisdom. She was very active in the St. Albans community as a member of the Democratic Club and part of the 196 St. Block Association. She worked for Mt. Sinai Hospital and retired at the age of 62. Joyce had a vivacious personality and was very popular and outgoing in her community. One of Joyce’s passions was bowling even so much she would travel to different states to attend tournaments. Her other passion was traveling, cruising to different parts of the world with her sisters and friends. She also enjoyed playing bingo and monthly Pokeno games with her girls. Joyce’s oldest and dearest friend of 60 years, Sara Ammonds quotes Mommy as saying “Two people can’t be the same” when asked how do you keep your smile during trying times. Joyce was a Grandmother of 6 and Great Grandmother of . She was a Virtuous Woman as the Bible says in Proverbs 31:10 -31. She strived to ensure that the family stay connected often, saying “blood is thicker than water”. She was our wind beneath our wings. She was a peacemaker with her infectious smile through adversity. Joyce Banks is survived by her daughter Wanda Boone, son Jonathan Banks, 3 grandsons Jason White, Andre Robinson, Johnathan Banks III, 3 granddaughters Jasmine, Anaya, Audra, 2 great grandchildren, Cameron and Sanaa, her twin sister Janet, sister Dottie, brother Salim, son-in-law Rev. Clinton Boone III, daughter in law Pam Banks. As well as a host of nieces and nephews. All of these she loved and touched deeply.