William Stafford Bankston, 96, of Batesville, Mississippi, passed away on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020.
Visitation was held from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 at the Newton County Funeral Home- North with funeral services immediately following. Burial followed in Newton County Memorial Gardens. Newton County Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. (601) 635-3200
Mr. Bankston was born July 20. 1923 on a farm in County Line School district near Union, MS. He was the oldest of Mr. and Mrs. William Clay Bankston’s five children. He attended school at County Line where he finished school in 1942. In August 1942 he married Luvie Dee Smith. In the spring of 1943 they became members of Golden Grove Baptist Church, now known as Enon Church.
In September 1943 he was drafted into the Army. While serving in the Army, he was awarded the Good Conduct Ribbon, Sharp Shooter Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, World Victory Medal, two Oak Leaf Clusters, and European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.
After being discharged, he and Luvie Dee moved back to the Union area on a farm where they had two daughters. In 1951 they moved to Mobile, Al where he was employed at the Brookley Air Force Base. He became a member of Sage Avenue Baptist Church in Mobile.
In the early 1960s they moved to Newton, MS where he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Newton. He lived there approximately 39 years.
Due to age and health conditions in 2005 they moved to Batesville, MS, near their daughter. Mr. Bankston was a member of VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and the American Legion. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Luvie Dee Bankston; parents, William C. and Vema Rhodes Bankston; brother, Kenneth Bankston; and sisters, Ruby Posey and Jean Hamil.
Survivors include daughters, Deloris Linam (John Sr.) and Beverly Ferrell (Vernon); sister, Jo Anne Richardson; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Honorary pallbearers were Kenny Joe Bankston, Billy Bankston, Larry Hamil, Danny Hamil, Tim Hamil, Benny Hicks, Scott Posey, and Kevin Richardson.
Online guestbook may be signed at www.newtoncountyfuneralhome.com
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