Dr. Charles Lee Banks Jr.

BANKS, Dr. Charles Lee Jr. - Age 52, passed away Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI. Family hour 11:00 AM Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Victorious Word Church, G-3560 Beecher Rd., with funeral service commencing at 11:30 M Pastor Rodney Murphy, Eulogist. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11:00 AM Saturday. Dr. Banks will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday, September 14, 2023, with family present from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM to receive friends. He fought a courageous battle against #cancer while also, in school for his Doctorate of Social Work in Advanced Clinical Practice from the University of Alabama. #RollTideRoll He was able to realize this goal just days before he passed away. The family welcomes non-traditional expressions of condolences in the form of congratulations & celebratory acknowledgments for the completion of his Doctorate. Dr. Charles L. Banks, Jr. was born in Flint, Michigan, February 15, 1971 to Charles L. Banks, Sr. and Shelley Faye Chappell (Burks). Dr. Banks confessed his hope in Christ at an early age at Foss Avenue Baptist Church. He later joined Grace Cathedral Community Church where he served in many capacities. As time went on, he joined Victorious Word Church where he served faithfully and continued to fellowship online when traveling became difficult. Dr. Banks attended Flint Community Schools and was a proud graduate of the “Class of 1990” from Flint Northern High School. He was a member of the Varsity Basketball Team and was recruited by St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, MI to play basketball on a scholarship. In the summer of 1990, he met the love of his life, Dana Richards and they married in 1997. After many years of attending community college, he reluctantly applied to the University of Michigan-Flint where he excelled academically. He was active in student life and graduated with honors. In 2016, he was voted B.S.W. Social Work, “Student of the Year” by the National Association of Social Workers. Academics was not always easy for Dr. Banks. In the early years he considered himself an athlete first and a student second. He often told stories about how the grades he earned in his youth would spell the sound “ED-DA-BA.” Over the years he matured, sought out academic assistance from the University and his grades began to spell AA-AA-AA! Dr. Banks considered himself to be a life-long learner and insisted a good time could be had from reading a new book. His wife often teased him about two books he recently finished reading titled, “How To Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading” and “How To Write A Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing”. He also taught his children to be life-long learners and he created a call and response for TeamBanks about school. He would ask his children “Why do I send you to school?” and the children would answer in unison, “TO LEARN!” Dr. Banks also studied abroad in the Netherlands at Utrecht University. He earned a certificate of completion, on International Migration, Integration and Ethnic Relations; a Bachelor of Social Work from University of Michigan-Flint, a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, and Doctor of Social Work in Advanced Clinical Practice from The University of Alabama. Charles was a Licensed Social Worker (LMSW); a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), held the following certificates from the University of Michigan: Management of Human Services, Specialist in Aging, and Addictions certificate programs. He also completed Mental Health First Aid certification from Genesee Health Systems and was a member of several academic honor societies; Phi Alpha National Honors Society, Vice President of Sigma Phi Omega at the University of Michigan, and Omega Nu Lambda Zeta Chapter National Honors Society for Online Students. Dr. Banks was a hard worker and often held two or more jobs at one time. He was a dedicated provider for his family who clocked thousands of hours of paid and volunteer community service. Dr. Banks began volunteering in his youth and continued serving well into adulthood with numerous organizations in the state of Ohio, and the counties of Genesee, Shiawassee, Livingston, and Washtenaw in Michigan. He instilled in his daughters the importance of “giving back” to the community by serving together at many local events, including ringing the bell for Salvation Army every Christmas. Dr. Banks was drawn to the social work profession because it aligned with his innate desire to help others, noting the need for social services from the community that raised him. He started his career path with the Juvenile Detention Center in Columbus, Ohio. His passion for social work continued to grow during his employment as a Day Treatment Counselor in Hartland, MI schools for thirteen years and several years working at Whaley Children’s Center in Flint, MI. He was employed as a Clinical Social Worker with the Veterans Health Administration in Ann Arbor, MI, his “dream job.” Dr. Banks was an Adjunct Lecturer at The University of Alabama Graduate School teaching Psychopathology, an Outpatient Therapist at New Oakland Family Centers, and a Substance Abuse Counselor at Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County. His hobbies included fishing, grilling, reading, playing and watching sports, martial arts and playing the bass guitar, which he taught himself, so he could play his favorite songs. Dr. Charles L. Banks, Jr. leaves a legacy that includes his amazing wife of 26 years, Dana, their four daughters, Camryn, Alanah, Olivia, and Troy Marie; his fur baby P’nut Butter; both parents, brothers, Bryant Miller, Janarvis Burks, Rev. Kelly (Andrea) Richards, Sr. and Percy Richards, III; sisters; Kantayeni (Tyree) Mahan; Antinett (Crain)Thompson Avery; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, classmates, friends and a special “RC or Real Cousin”, Darwin Smith. Dr. Banks also leaves a flourishing online community he created called Sports Talk Nation (STN) who affectionately named him “The Commish”.

Dr. Charles Lee Banks Jr.

February 15, 1971 - September 5, 2023