Bobbie Nobles Banks

Barbara "Bobbie" Nobles Banks was born on May 8, 1926 in Newport News, Virginia. Her mother died giving birth, and Bobbie went home to live with her father and beloved older sisters Mary and Helen. Her sisters, along with her adored grandmother Mattie Wrenn, were integral to her upbringing. Bobbie graduated from high school during World War II and decided to become a nurse. As a devoted Baptist, she applied to the Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta. Bobbie had limited resources, but the school's director told her to "come on down and the Lord will open a door," and indeed the federal government's wartime Cadet Corps paid enough to get her through. Bobbie continued her education at Betsy Tift College in Forsyth, working as the school nurse. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1949 and remained a proud alumna. She continued her nursing career in Forsyth, and in 1949 wed Forsyth native and Air Force veteran Ben T. Banks, Jr., to whom she remained happily married for 58 years until his death in 2007. The couple moved to Covington in 1956 and Bobbie stepped away from professional pursuits to raise her two daughters. A natural educator, she owned and operated a private kindergarten in the early 1960s. She eventually enrolled in night school and took correspondence courses to earn her teaching certificate and taught first grade at E. L. Ficquett Elementary in Covington for 26 years. Bobbie loved Covington and was deeply involved in community life. She reluctantly left the Baptist fold to join Ben in the Methodist church, which she grew to love deeply. She wore many hats at Covington First UMC, including teaching the Men's Bible and Agape Classes, participating in the Martha Ministry and Stephen Ministries, and singing in the choir. Her multiple civic involvements included Girl Scouts, Service Guild of Covington, Covington Book Club, Newton County Board of Health, and the Hospital Auxiliary. For 25 years she made golden ribbon angels and delivered them to hospital patients on Christmas Eve. Bobbie earned many honors through the years, including Newton County Teacher of the Year in 1975, Georgia Mother of the Year in 1993, and the R.O. Arnold Award in 2004. Bobbie delighted in friends and family. She moved to Merryvale Assisted Living in 2013 and there discovered a wonderful new community where she could remain active and independent. Bobbie maintained always a passionate drive to help others. That remarkable drive was in evidence even days before her death as she suggested from her hospital bed a plan to frame and donate her current book-themed jigsaw puzzle to the local library. Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents Myrtle Nobles and Herbert Hope Nobles, brother Herbert Nobles, sisters Mary Blakemore and Helen Turlington, and husband Ben Banks. She is survived by her daughters Marigene Banks of Athens and Bobbie Wrenn Banks (David Root) of Atlanta; grandchildren Lennon Haas (Violeta Yoveva) of Atlanta, Paul Root (Nina Root) of Indianapolis, Betsy Godfrey (Dr. Andrew Godfrey-Kittle) of Atlanta, and Natalya Haas of Athens; great-grandchildren Lila, Ned, David, Benjamin, George and Noah; and by her beloved dog Maggie. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 3:00 PM at First United Methodist Church, 1113 Conyers Street SW, Covington, GA. The family will receive friends at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home on Monday April 30, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Covington First United Methodist Church Building Fund, or to Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah 84741.

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Visitation

APR 30. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (EDT)

Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home and Dogwood Hill Crematory - Access Road Location
1215 Access Road
Covington, GA, 30014

Funeral Service

MAY 1. 3:00 PM (EDT)

First United Methodist Church (Covington)
1113 Conyers Street SW
Covington, GA, 30014

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