Thurman Lee Banks

It is with great sorrow that the family of Thurman “Lee” Banks, 84, announces his passing on Wednesday January 7, 2026 at Carriage Hill Health & Rehab Center. 

A true Southern gentleman, born in West Virginia to John and Medina. Lee spent his childhood growing up in Poughkeepsie, NY and his early adulthood in Los Angeles, CA. In the 1980’s he relocated to Fredericksburg, VA. On Christmas Eve of 1989 he married his wife, Marilyn and in January of 1990, he became a member of Sylvannah Baptist Church in Spotsylvania, VA.

Lee was a man who wore many hats—most often his signature cowboy hat—but his favorite roles were those of a devoted husband and a loving father.

To know Lee was to love him. He was a "one-man show" in every sense of the phrase. He ran his own commercial cleaning business, Banks Janitorial Service, with the kind of integrity and work ethic that is rare to find today. He was a pillar of our community, a man who would offer the shirt off his back or he had a story about his favorite cars, fishing trip, his days of being a boxer or working in the coal mines to anyone who needed a smile. He truly was like a second dad to the children in the Mayfield neighborhood.

He is preceded in death by his son, Thurman Banks, Jr.; mother, Medina Head; father, John Banks, Sr.; siblings, Madeline Robinson, Nina Head, Haratis “Ray” Banks, Robert “Bobby” Banks, Sherman Head and John “Johnny” Banks, Jr.; father in-law, Joseph Coleman, Jr.; mother in-law, Mary Coleman; and brothers in-laws, Robert Coleman and Joseph Coleman III.

Lee is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Marilyn Banks; two daughters, Melanie Byrd (Lamont) and Michelle Banks; sisters, Jackie Glover (Eric), Dorothea Head, Dorothy Lane, and Elizabeth Head; brother in-law, Charles Coleman (Diane); his godchildren, Graham “Butch” Tenhoeve, Sr. (Shirlene), Corey “Doodis” Green, Khian Antwi, Victor Scotti, Jr. (Gary), Christina “Chrissy” Graves-Brown (Kevin) and Misha Williams. He also leaves to mourn several nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many close friends and other relatives.

We are heartbroken, but we find comfort in knowing he’s likely on a peaceful lake in heaven right now, waiting for the big one to bite. We love you. Thank you for everything.

The Banks family wishes to express our deepest thanks from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers, your love and your generosity. 

A viewing will be held at A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home, 200 Butternut Drive, Fredericksburg, VA, 22408, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM. The interment will follow at Sylvannah Baptist Church Cemetery, 8400 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania, VA, 22551. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of Thurman Lee Banks to A.L. Bennett and Son Funeral Home for his service expenses.