- Date Of Birth: November 10, 1918
- Date Of Death: August 14, 2016
- State: Georgia
Mrs. Mary Willie Kitchens Banks enjoyed a life of family, friends, music and community involvement for 97 years. In the early morning of August 14, 2016 her time on this earth drew to a peaceful close and she joined all the saints who have gone on before her. Mary Willie’s life began November 10, 1918 when she was born at the family home on Jefferson Street in Newnan owned by her parents William Albert and Nellie Rosser Bowen. There was a built-in nanny there, as her grandmother also shared the family home. She attended Newnan High School and graduated in 1935. She furthered her education at Georgia State College for Women and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1939.
She later did post graduate work at what was then West Georgia College. “Miss Mary Willie’ was the go to person for piano students. She taught hundreds of young people in the fifteen years she did this. She later taught fourth grade at Elm Street School in Newnan from 1965- 1970. Aside from her students, Mary Willie’s great joy was her involvement in Newnan First United Methodist Church. She was a lifelong member and delighted in recanting her memories of the “old church” on Jackson Street and the “new church” on Greenville Street. She sang in the sanctuary choir for over 70 years. She delighted in assisting with the children’s choirs. She also served as President of the United Methodist Women.
Also a good community citizen, she was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa (international organization for women educators), The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, The Kiwanis Club of Coweta County and The Newnan Junior Service League. She will be remembered as a devoted wife to Henry B. Kitchens to whom she was married from 1941 – 1963. She later married Samuel M. Banks, a friend of many years, in 1970. He preceded her in death in 1989. Mrs. Banks was a loving mother to her children Karen Kitchens Newman of Montgomery, AL and William Henry Kitchens and his wife Ellen of Atlanta. She was adored by her grandchildren Dr. Alfred Newman and his wife Catherine of Charlotte, NC, Dr. Andrew Newman and his wife Kelly of Columbia, SC, Dr. William Kitchens, Jr. of Atlanta, Nathan Kitchens of Atlanta, Madison Kitchens and his wife Ahra of Atlanta, Reverend Chamberlyn Marks and her husband Calvin of Wake Forest, NC. Her great grandchildren are Meredith, Lauren and Layla Newman; Ethan and Wesley Marks.
Also surviving are Sam’s children Robert Banks and his wife Mary Sue of Higdon, AL, Laura Lewis and her husband Eugene of Elberton, GA, Jennie Banks of Charlotte, NC. Those grandchildren are Charles Banks, Dylan Maher, Adam Lewis and Jenny Gewirtzman. Many people have been of great help to Mary Willie in the past years, but her family would like to express their gratitude to her dedicated caregivers Velma Gulick, Enesta Reeves, Mary Luke, Annie Holloway, Dottie Edwards and Catherine Woods. Theirs was a special labor of compassionate care.
