A Celebration of Life Service for Deaconess Ella M. Banks, of Tampa, Florida who passed away July 30, 2023, will be held Saturday, August 12th, 2:00 p.m. at New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2511 E. Columbus Dr. Tampa, Florida, Pastor Larry L. Roundtree II, officiating. Ella Banks was born May 10, 1945, in Trenton, New Jersey, to the late Preston Jefferson Hodges and Phoebe Elvira Jenkins-Hodges.

Ella accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age at the Holy Trinity Church of God In Christ. She graduated from Trenton High School in 1963. Her maturity and academic achievements earned her participation as a debutante in the Monmouth County Scholarship Cotillion. Following high school, Ella became a registered nurse and graduated from Temple University School of Nursing in 1966. She enjoyed many nursing assignments in multiple states, including Princeton University Hospital, Temple University Hospital, and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She became a specialist in geriatric care and public health nursing, spending several years with The Visiting Nurses Association of New Milford, Connecticut. Ella married, Richard Elijah Banks on January 16, 1971. They had two children, Raymon O. Banks of Tampa, Florida and Jeffrey E. Banks of Washington, DC.

Ella loved going out on a Saturday morning to find the best bargains at a yard sale. Additionally, her love of travel took her internationally on cruises and four continents, as well as multiple cities across the United Sates. She enjoyed cooking and made an impressive cheesecake. She learned Bridge and played regularly at the local Bridge clubs. At opportune times, she would travel to regional and national tournaments. She was absolutely elated when she earned a first-place finish in one game at the North American Bridge Championships. Her love for the game created leadership roles in the American Bridge Association serving as a founding member, treasurer, and president of the Tampa Charter. Ella had a very generous heart. She loved her family and enjoyed the annual Harrison-Jenkins Family Reunions. She was a devoted mother, who loved taking her sons to their practices, games and band performances, as well as coaching youth bowling teams. She served in ministerial leadership from being a Deaconess to singing in the choir to being the President of Church Women United in Danbury, Connecticut, to being the Financial Secretary of the Womens Auxiliary of the National Baptist Deacons Convention for many years. She selflessly volunteered her expertise in the health profession by helping with the long-term care of multiple family members, a volunteer school nurse, leading the Nurses Board in multiple ministries and serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the New Milford, Connecticut Chapter of the Red Cross, and was also a member of The Religious Conference Management Association.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Preston Jefferson Hodges, Phoebe Elvira Jenkins-Hodges; sisters, Helen M. Hodges and Catherine H. Fulford; nieces, Jacqueline Johnson and nephew, William Hodges.

She leaves behind cherished memories to her husband of over fifty-two years, Richard E. Banks; children, Raymon O. Banks, and Jeffrey E. Banks; sisters, Georgia M. Hodges-Johnson, and Annie M. Hodges-Robinson; aunt, Birtie Mae Jenkins; nieces, Adrenna Fulford Alvin (Jerry), Juanita Favor, Dr. Cynthia Fulford and Dana Hall, RN; nephews, Thomas Fulford III (Evelyn), Preston Fulford, Preston Jamar Hodges; and a host of other relatives and friends. The family and friends are asked to meet at the church for the service on Saturday.

Funeral Service
Saturday, August 12, 2023
2:00 PM
New Mount Zion MB Church
2511 E. Columbus
Tampa, FL 33605