Samuel Banks

Samuel Love Banks was a kind and loving man who valued the important things in life. Learning the importance of family at a young age, Samuel dedicated his golden years to caring for his daughters and grandchildren. Sam’s children and grandchildren will miss his caring smile and gentle nature, but most importantly, they will miss his delicious “Loplolly” dinners.

In 1939 the world was embracing a period of great change. It was in that historic year that World War II started across the globe. As young president Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared neutrality in the United States, millions of Americans went on their lives. Still holding on to the hopes of peace Americans kept busying visiting local cinemas to watch the landmark movie “Gone with the Wind”. For Horace Banks Jr. and Rose Bell Bonner of Morgan City, Mississippi, 1939 was memorable for another reason. It was in that year that the couple welcomed their only son Samuel Love on October 31st 1939.

When Sam was only a young boy his father left home leaving his mother Rosie to raise the small boy. Facing the difficult task of raising a child on her own, Rosie and Sam relocated to Chicago to be near Rosie’s family, who could help raise Sam. The early years of Sam’s life were spent on the Southside of Chicago, where he enjoyed fishing with friends. His mother worked cleaning houses in order to support them. Rosie’s faith was important to her and she made sure to raise her son in the Baptist Faith. Sam confirmed in his faith at a young age in baptism, Sam’s love for the Lord would become very significant to him later in his life. When Sam was in his early teens, Rosie married a man named John Fuller. When Johnny entered Rosie’s life, he immediately accepted Sam as his son for all intents and purposes. Sam loved John dearly and never looked at him as anything less than his father. In 1958 Sam graduated high school with an automotive “mechanic certificate.” Following graduation, he took a job in a grocery store where he bagged groceries, cut meat, and did any other work that was necessary.

During the time in his life following high school, Sam met a young woman named Sylvia A. Brown at a buddy’s house. It seems that his friend was trying to date Sylvia, but she was simply not interested. Exasperated in his efforts, the friend reluctantly set Sylvia up with his good friend Sam. It was the summer of 1961 and soon a romance blossomed between the young couple. In January of 1962 the lovebirds took their vows, and their first baby girl, Monique, followed later in the same year. Exactly two years to-the-day later, a second daughter Raedeana was born on August 20, 1964. By the time his second daughter was born, Sam was working at the Ford Motor Company in Chicago, IL, however, he and Sylvia decided to move to Holland, Michigan to be closer to Sylvia’s family. When the couple relocated to Michigan Sam was able to take a better job working at Bonn Aluminum. After moving to Holland, the young family made their home on the North side of town at 136th and Barry Street. When Sam and Sylvia divorced in 1971, he decided to move back to his hometown of Chicago to be close to family. This was a tough adjustment for the family; his daughters were young and they shared time back and forth with their parents in Chicago and Holland. He visited as often as he could and shared many summer trips and vacations with his girls. While back in Chicago, he worked in a meat packing business with his father.

After the death of his mother in 1994, Sam returned to Holland, where he was able to witness the birth of his first grandson, “his boy Mykele”, later that same year. While living in Holland, Sam had the opportunity to share a home with his daughter Monique and then later Raedeana, who both lived in Holland. Sam enjoyed sharing his life with his girls. During their time together he was very involved in his daughters lives; not only did he offer them emotional support, he also helped them around the houses. Having a “live-in grandfather” was a wonderful experience for his daughters and their children. Sam was very active around the house and he spent many hours doing everything from cooking and cleaning to fixing cars, while spending plenty of quality time with his grandkids in between. Sam thoroughly enjoyed all of the time he was able to spend with his grandkids. Together they would watch TV (especially the Three Stooges) and fish. He even loved fixing his little girls hair when they were young. However, what he loved most of all was sharing a meal that he prepared himself. Sam loved to cook and he was very good at it. His specialty was a dish called “Loplolly;” his term for a good dinner out of anything he had around the house. Though Loplolly was a family favorite, nothing pleased the children more than when he made dinner out of a fish that was caught on one of their trips.

Following a stroke in 2000, Sam’s life slowed down a lot, but he still managed to do the things that were important to him. Realizing what was truly important in life, after being sick; Sam rededicated his life to the Lord. Together he and his best buddy Roy Roberson went on a lot of car rides and enjoyed plenty of fishing trips.

After 65 years of a life filled with love, Samuel L. Banks died Monday February 28, 2005. Sam is survived by his loving daughters Monique (Banks) and Rick Anderson of Holland, MI; Raedeana and Marshall Chapman of Holland; six grandchildren (Kamial, Kamesha (Cornelius), Kaliasha (David), Sylvia, Isaiah III, Mykele) ; three great-grandchildren (Kamarion, Taliah, Desmond); special friend Sylvia Banks of Holland, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Northwood Chapel Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home 295 Douglas Ave. Holland, MI, with Rev. Britain Ward presiding. Visitation will be held prior to the service Saturday at the funeral home. To share a memory, or make a memorial contribution to the charity of your choice, please visit Sam’s personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com.