Isaac (Ike) Means Aiken Jr.

Prominent Georgia banker Isaac (Ike) Means Aiken Jr. died Oct. 14, 2010, in the Brunswick hospital of the Southeast Georgia Health System. Mr. Aiken was for many years a senior executive with SunTrust Bank in Atlanta and Savannah. "The Entrepreneur Spirit, The Georgia Businessman's Magazine," in its July 24, 1973, issue stated that Ike Aiken Jr. was one of the five top bankers in Georgia.

Ike Aiken Jr. was born July 5, 1924, at home, 803 London St., Brunswick. He was the proud son of Alice Harrison and Isaac Means Aiken Sr. and a descendant of several generations of distinguished coastal Georgians, including William Page and Thomas Butler King of Retreat Plantation. The Cloister Hotel purchased the property from the King – Aiken Family in 1926.
Ike Aiken Jr. graduated from Glynn Academy and the University of Virginia. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. World War II interrupted his years at the university. He served in the United States Navy until the end of the war and then returned to the University of Virginia to complete and graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Following his graduation from college in 1947, Mr. Aiken began his banking career with Citizens and Southern National Bank in Valdosta, Macon and Augusta. In 1953, he married Louise Inman McNeel of Marietta, Atlanta and Sea Island. They have two children, Louise Inman Aiken Calhoun and Wyatt King Aiken.

Mr. Aiken became affiliated with Johnson, Lane, Space and Co. in Savannah and several years later was vice president of the American National Bank in Brunswick. In 1958, he joined the Trust Co. of Georgia (now SunTrust Bank) in Atlanta. When Lenox Square opened, he was made manager of the Trust Co. Lenox Square Branch. Later, he was made president of DeKalb National Bank of Brookhaven and later, DeKalb National Bank (an affiliate of Trust Co. of Georgia). While in Atlanta, he served on the Board of Trustees of Oglethorpe University; and was president of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce; director of Marble Products Co.; director of the Georgia Motor Co. of the Automobile Association of America; director of Georgia Easter Seal Society for crippled children and adults; president and director of the North DeKalb Rotary Club; advisory director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and director of Trust Co. of Georgia Associates. In 1969, he was elected "Boss of the Year" by the North DeKalb Jaycees.

In 1971, Mr. Aiken and his family moved to Savannah where he was president and chief executive officer of the Liberty National Bank (an affiliate of Trust Co. Bank, and later renamed SunTrust Bank). He remained in that position until his retirement in 1989. He provided leadership in many commercial, civic and cultural affairs as follows – president and trustee for Independent Colleges, president of the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences; director of the United Way of Savannah; director of the Savannah Foundation Inc.; director of the Coastal Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America; director of Savannah Boy's Club and The Boy's Club of America; vice president of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce; director of the Savannah Rotary Club East; director of the South Atlantic Foundation; advisory board member for the Savannah State College School of Business; co-chairman of the American Cancer Society and president and director of the Savannah Port Ports Authority.
Upon his retirement, Mr. Aiken and his family moved to Sea Island, where he remained active as a member of the Foundation Board of the Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Society; was chairman of Group One of the Georgia Bankers Association; director of SunTrust Bank of Southeast Georgia and president of the Sea Island Property Owners Association.

His club affiliations included Capital City Club and Piedmont Driving Club, Atlanta; Oglethorpe Club, First City Club, Chatham Club, Savannah Yacht Club, Century Club and Cotillion Club, Savannah; St. Simons Land Trust and president of the Friends of Coastal Georgia History, St. Simons Island.

Mr. Aiken leaves his wife Louise; children, Louise Calhoun (Keith) and Wyatt Aiken (Marci); grandchildren, Katie, Langley, Reid and Zach Calhoun and Leak Aiken; brother, Harrison Aiken (Mary) of St. Simons Island; and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his always devoted, adored and beloved dog, Toxie.

Mr. Aiken has been a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church and an affiliate member of St. Simons Presbyterian Church.
The funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Christ Church, 6329 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island. Interment will be at 4 p.m., followed by a memorial service and reception in the Parish Hall. Father Doug Renegar, and the Rev. Bob Brearley of St. Simons Presbyterian Church, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation, 2415 Parkwood Drive, Brunswick, GA 31520, where he and his family have received wonderful and loving care.

Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.