Fred D. Shanks

Fred David Shanks, 89, died Saturday, May 15, 2010, after a short illness, at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson. A Memorial Mass will be held at 8:30 a.m. today at St. Catherine's Chapel. Visitation begins at 10 AM today at Lakewood Funeral with services to follow in the funeral home chapel at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Lakewood Memorial Park.
Mr. Shanks was born in Taylorsville, MS September 4th 1920 to Edgar Flournoy Shanks and Nancy Maud Roberts. Fred graduated from high school at Jones Junior College Agricultural High School and signed a baseball scholarship with legendary coach "Dudy" Nobles at Mississippi State College. It was here he considered it a privilege to catch for two future major league pitchers, Boo Ferris and Homer Spragins. In the summers Fred played Semipro baseball for teams throughout the south and in 1987 was elected to the Mississippi Semi-Pro Hall of Fame. While at State, Fred was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, the "M" Club, and was a member of advanced ROTC. His Senior year he married Francis McMillian of Meridian.
Upon graduating with a B.A. in History Mr. Shanks was sent to Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA. 1st Lt. Shanks was assigned to the 26th Inf. Division, which was the famed "Yankee" Division. The 26th entered Normandy and in their first action at Moncourt Woods. Lt. Shanks was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action under enemy fire. His citation would read, in part, "Directing a withering fire upon hostile forces, he inspired his men to repulse the second hostile counter attack with heavy losses. 1st Lt. Shank's heroic actions in the face of great danger averted serious consequences to the entire battalion. His outstanding courage under fire, aggressive leadership against the enemy, and loyal devotion to duty reflected the highest credit upon 1st Lt. Shanks and the armed forces of the United States."
Lt. Shanks would participate in the Lorraine Campaign, the Battle for Metz. Later, as a company commander, Capt. Shanks helped lead his men in the "Long March" which led to the relief of the besieged American soldiers at Bastogne. For this action the "Yankee" Division was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Capt. Shanks was also involved in the campaign from the Saar River to the Rhine where he was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster (Multiple Award) for this crusade. The 26th later pushed across Germany and into Czechoslovakia when a cease fire was declared. Fred would remain active in the US Army Reserves and retired as a Colonel.
Returning home to Mississippi, Fred and Francis moved to Jackson where he started his career with the Alcohol and Tobacco division of the U.S. Treasury Department. Mr. Shanks opened the ATF's first office on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Pascagoula. He later opened an office in Gulfport before being transferred back to Jackson in 1960. He would remain here until his retirement as the north Mississippi area supervisor. Prior to his retirement he as particularly proud that in 1972 the ATF, when becoming a separate Federal agency, held their first meeting in Jackson.
Fred Accepted Christ as a teenager at the Methodist Church in Taylorsville. He later joined the Catholic Faith. He and his family were members of Saint John's Catholic Church in Gulfport and Saint Teresa's Catholic Church in Jackson for many years.
Mr. Shanks was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Francis McMillan Shanks. Fred was also preceded in death by brothers, Hal Shanks of Atlanta Georgia, Edgar "Chick" Shanks of Taylorsville; and sisters, Ruth Mayfield of Brandon, Maudell Glisson of Baton Rouge, and Wava Billingsly of Newberry, SC.
Mr. Shanks is survived by his son, David and his wife, Kay of Bossier City, La.; son, Doug and his wife, Kay of Brandon; son, Don of Madison; daughter, Kaye Gray of St. Catherine's Village; daughter, Mimi and her husband, Don Barrett of Nashville, TN; and daughter, Beth and her husband, Mike Frizsell of Jackson.
Mr. Shanks will be laid to rest with Military Honors at Lakewood Memorial in Jackson next to his wife in the family plot.
Mr. Shanks' grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Fred David Shanks III, Jason Gray, Justin Gray, Cliff Shanks, Fred Shanks, Sim Shanks, and Bryice Barrett. The Shanks Family would like to thank the staff at Saint Catherine's Village, Sinea Wing, for their loving care of our Dad and to Doctor Gene Loper for his care and friendship to the Shanks Family. In lieu of flowers, donations can me made to St. Catherine's Village Foundation, 200 Dominican Drive, Madison, Ms. 39110.