A celebration of life will be held for Ms. Martha Banks on Saturday June 29, 2024 at 11am in the chapel of Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home at 117 MLK Dr. Winnfield, La 71483. A public visitation will be at 9am. Burial will take place at the New Friendship Cemetery 403 New Friendship Rd. off of Hwy 505.

On October 1, 1951, in Jonesboro, LA, God blessed Lula Mae and John Bonner, Jr of Dodson, LA with a beautiful baby girl. There she lived with her parents and two siblings, Charles E. Bonner and Abby A. Sears.

She attended Hilltop Elementary of Dodson, LA and graduated from Pasadena High School after moving to Pasadena, CA, with her family during her senior year.

She became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl in 1971 just before returning to Dodson, LA, with her family that following year. There she lived with her family until marrying her first husband, Jimmy Mattox in 1974. The union was short lived and produced no children.

After her divorce, she married Ed Banks in 1977. This union lasted 21 years and produced one living child in 1985.

Martha was a very family-oriented person who was kindhearted and always willing to help those in need. She had a warm personality and was a bit of a jokester. She was a great cook and loved to make sweets. She also had a green thumb with a great love for gardening.

Under the spiritual leadership of her mother-in-law, Pastor Izella Banks, she accepted Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, as the head of her life.

She is proceeded in death by her parents, Lula Mae and John Bonner, Jr., her daughter, Willie Marie Bonner, and her great granddaughter Madelynn Armstrong.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her daughter Marzella Banks Brown (Carlton), her grandsons, David Bonner (Zadora), Damien Bonner, her granddaughters Daja Bonner, Makyla Brown, and Maleigha Brown, a brother Charles E. Bonner, a sister Abby A. Bonner Sears, six grand children and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.