Ida M. Hanks

BLOOMFIELD, CONN. - Elder Ida Mae Hanks, 73, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2002. She was born on April 7, 1929, in Cheraw, South Carolina, and has lived in Bloomfield, Conn., the last 20 years. Ida was a member of Faith Seventh Day Adventist Church. She moved to Newport News, Va., at an early age with her mother, Mary Poe, and her five brothers and four sisters. She was led to Christ by the late Elder W.C. Scale. Elder Ida became a willing worker for the Lord devoting much time and effort to her passion, which was witnessing and drawing others to Christ. She was baptized into the Calvary Seventh Day Adventist Church, Newport News, in 1963, when Elder Leonard Newton came to pastor there. He trained Elder Ida to do Bible work and her gift began to blossom. She became a Bible Instructor in the Northwestern Conference. In 1982 Elder Ida began her work in Hartford, Conn., with three Churches, Faith, Hope, and Charity. She leaves to cherish her memories two sons, Pastor Walter Hanks of Missouri City, Texas, and Jerry Hanks of Newport News; one daughter, Reta Hanks of Newport News; one sister, Mable Lewis of Los Angeles, Calif.; a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and thousands of lives that she touched. Funeral service will be held 12 noon Friday, May 24, at Calvary Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1200 17th Street, Newport News. Interment will follow in Hampton Memorial Gardens. Viewing will begin Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and two hours prior to the service at the church on Friday. Arrangements are by O.H. Smith and Son Funeral Home.