Obituary of Betty Lou Edwards Banks

Betty Lou Edwards Banks, age 89, of Dillingham Road, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, August 28, 2021.

Betty was born November 20, 1931 in Yancey County, graduated valedictorian from Bald Creek High School. Married at 18, she moved to the Dillingham community in Barnardsville and began creating lifetime friendships. Dillingham Presbyterian became her church family and she taught Sunday School for 45 years.  She is our steadfast prayer warrior and prayed for each of us by name every day.  Dedicating her life to her family, her friends, and her church, she leaves a priceless legacy for each of us.   Being the wife of a farmer, she cooked countless meals. Everyone was welcome in her home and at her table. She was a devoted wife, mother, granny, sister, aunt and friend. We find strength in her determined spirit. She left us a legacy of love, faith, grace and prayer. We are blessed to call her Mom, Granny, Aunt and Friend.

She was preceded in death by Blaine Banks, her husband of 67 years and her parents, Harmon and Alda Edwards. In addition to her parents and husband, she is reunited with their son, Jeremy Banks; sister, Peggy Payne; brothers, Ralph and Charles Edwards.

Surviving are her sons, Terry Banks and wife Karen of Barnardsville; Ivan Banks and wife Anne of Petroleum, WV; Chris Banks and wife Lorrie of Barnardsville and sisters-in-law, Carolyn “Tillie” Banks, Carol Banks of Barnardsville; brother in law, Fred Banks and wife Ruth of Midway, TN; grandchildren, Josh, Zach and Isaiah Banks, Terica Banks, Kerry Tomberlin, Blaine and Ben Banks, Caroline Depriest, Brandon Banks, Marshall, Madeline, Meredith and Miles Banks; step-grandchildren, Ella, Ethan and Aiden; and nineteen great-grandchildren; special niece, Sandy Wells and husband Bruce; son-in-love, Ronald and Janice Harwood; special friend, Donna Huntsinger ,and special caregivers, Chris and Lorrie Banks, Cricket Jarrett, Michelle Gentry, Lillian Waltrop, Abigail and Elisabeth Emory.

Her funeral service will be held at 2:30pm on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at Dillingham Presbyterian Church with Rev. Richard Hicks officiating. Burial will follow at West Memorial Park, Weaverville. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00PM on Monday, August 30, 2021 at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville.

Flowers are acceptable and appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to Dillingham Presbyterian Church, 16 Stoney Fork Road, Barnardsville, NC 28709.

For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mrs. Bank’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.