Judith Clare Bankey

Judith ("Judy") Clare Bankey (née Brown), age 82, passed away with courage and dignity on December 31, 2025, at home in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Born on October 24, 1943, in Wayne, Michigan, Judith was the daughter of the late Florence and John Brown. She graduated from Regina High School in Harper Woods, Michigan in 1961 and later attended the University of Detroit.

Last year, on August 8, Judith celebrated 61 years of marriage with her devoted husband, Kenneth Bankey. Fiercely committed to family, Judy is lovingly remembered by her children: Craig Bankey of Los Angeles, California; Pamela Bankey and her wife Elizabeth Whitcher of Baldwin, New York; Brian Bankey, his spouse Anna Patricia Bankey and her grandsons Patrick Bankey, currently a freshman at the University of Maryland, and Sean Bankey of New City, New York, who brought her great joy. Judy was cherished and will be missed by her older brother John Brown and his wife Virginia Brown of Greensboro, North Carolina. Judith is also survived by nieces Jill Bankey of Berkley, Michigan, Lisa Bankey of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Victoria Kans of Durham, North Carolina, Jacqueline Meerman of Spring Lake, Michigan and Suzanne Sebastian of Rochester, Michigan.

A woman of deep faith, Judy was an active member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Greensboro and St. Andrew Catholic Church in Rochester, Michigan. She volunteered at the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, North Carolina, taught Catechism and served as a Eucharistic Minister. Judith shared her faith with grace, giving Our Lady of Knock holy water and Blessed Solanus Casey "Pray for Us" medallions to anyone who was struggling.

Professionally ahead of her time, Judy established a successful career in sales after raising three children in the 1980s. She garnered awards (President's Club, Masters Circle) for her work with companies including Accountants on Call, Bowater, Diebold, Time Warner Telecom and Xerox. Her warmth, smile and infectious laugh left a lasting impression on colleagues and clients alike, which led to many lifelong friendships.

Judith was a member and served on the boards of Business Network International, Daughters of the American Revolution, Guilford County Ancient Order of Hibernians, Guilford Rotary Club, National Society United States Daughters of 1812, Rochester Junior Women, Newcomers Club, Society for Human Resource Management and the Triad Women Leaders Association. She also volunteered at Reading Connections, Guilford County's adult literacy organization.

Playful and dynamic, Judy embraced people and living with enthusiasm; she never met a stranger. An eternal optimist, Judith chose to see the beauty, hope and joy in life. She was a loyal friend who appreciated spending time with loved ones, making people laugh, hosting fun parties, shopping, her Irish heritage, good food, cooking, movies, Impressionist art, theatre, music, dancing and hot air balloons. Judy was an ardent fan of Maya Angelou, "Gone with the Wind," the Kennedy family, Mother Teresa, Paul Newman and Elvis Presley.

Visitation will be held on January 7 at Forbis & Dick Funeral Service - Guilford Chapel in Greensboro, North Carolina from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm (EST). A funeral Mass, which will be livestreamed on YouTube at @saintpaultheapostlecatholi3791, follows on January 8 at 11:00 am (EST) at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Greensboro. In late spring, the family will host a Celebration of Judy's Life in Michigan.

Contributions may be made in Judith's memory to the Father Solanus Casey Center in Detroit, Michigan (www.solanuscasey.org/help-us-serve/donate/) and Hospice of the Piedmont in High Point, North Carolina (https://www.hospiceofthepiedmont.org/donate/).