Alice Davis Folkes Bankston

Alice Davis Folkes Bankston, "Puddin," passed away on June 7 at 12:40 p.m. She died peacefully with her family at her bedside at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Born January 14, 1935 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she was the only child of Alice Winfield Pipes and Senator Warren Davis Folkes. She married Walter Roland Bankston on March 5, 1955 at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Francisville, LA. She graduated from West Feliciana High School and attended Louisiana State University, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Puddin was a gracious hostess and a gourmet cook. A lovely meal and wonderful conversation was to be expected when she entertained. As she was an avid gardener, her meals always included something fresh from the garden, as well as an arrangement of home-grown flowers on the table. Puddin was a gifted artist and an avid reader. She loved traveling the world with her loving husband and close friends. She was a lover of fine music, and over the years sang in the choirs of Grace Church, St. James Episcopal in Baton Rouge, and The Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers, North Carolina. She loved her summer home in Cashiers, and enjoyed her time spent with her many friends in that special mountain community. In Cashiers, Puddin was a member of the Sheep Laurel Garden Club, the High Hampton Colony Club, and the Church of the Good Shepherd. Puddin was always civic-minded and socially active. In Baton Rouge and St. Francisville, she was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Baton Rouge, and she belonged to The Felicianians Supper Club, The Feliciana Country Gardeners, The Philistoria study club and the East Side - West Side club. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Walter Roland Bankston; her four children and their spouses: Peggy and Joey Gammill, Davis and Kathy Bankston, Elizabeth and Bob Finley, Laura and BJ Crooks; ten grandchildren: Charlotte Peno and her husband Justin, Dr. Allyson Gammill, Davis Gammill, Meg Bankston, Davis Folkes Bankston, Jamie Bankston, Paula Finley, Jessica Finley, Brandon Crooks and Brian Crooks; two great grandchildren: Joey Win Peno and Alice Davis Cavalier. She is also survived by her beloved Katie Cat. A service in thanksgiving for her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 14, at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Francisville. The service will be followed by visiting and a reception luncheon in Jackson Hall. The service will be conducted by her dear friend The Right Reverend Robert C. Witcher, and the Reverend Roman Roldan, rector of Grace Church. Pall-bearers will be her grandsons: Davis Gammill, Davis Folkes Bankston, Brandon Crooks, Brian Crooks, Jamie Bankston and Justin Peno. Puddin had too many friends to list as honorary Pall-Bearers, but the family wants to particularly thank Dr. Bruce Barryhill for his help during these trying times. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Folkes Educational Fund at Grace Church, P.O. Box 28, St. Francisville, LA 70775.