Cecil Francis Banton Sr.

On Sunday, October 07, 2012, Cecil Francis Banton, Sr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior after a long battle with cancer. Born on January 25, 1935, he lived his life in Madison Heights with his wife of fifty-seven years, Marian Dobyns Banton. Cecil and Marian met and became sweethearts when they were sixteen and eighteen at Shaner skating ring in Madison Heights. They were married a year later. He was the son of the late Van Edward Banton and the late Frances Phillips Banton.

Cecil was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a servant of the Lord for sixty years and was a former member of Madison Heights Baptist Church and a devoted member of Temple Baptist Church for the last nine years, which he dearly loved. Cecil was an employee of Griffin Pipe Co. for more than thirty three years, where he worked himself up to become second shift superintendent. He retired in 1991. He had many long lasting friendships from this time in his life. He was also a member of the Virginia National Guard for eight years.

Cecil had a great love for fishing and camping. Cecil and Marian spent many years on the Atlantic coast surf fishing with their family and friends. His other passions in life were his family, gardening, and his flowers. His personality was special. He never met a stranger and truly loved people and loved talking. He loved sharing his stories of life with his captive audience, his grandchildren. His grandchildren were his life. They truly meant everything to him and he showed it daily. His two sons were so special to him. Everything he did started with them. Being a father to his sons gave him the reasons to work as hard as he did for his family.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by three brothers, Van E. Banton Jr. of Lynchburg, Charles W. Banton & Malcolm H. Banton of Madison Heights and one sister Josephine B. Shores of Madison Heights.

Cecil is survived by one sister, Carolyn B. Creammer; his two sons Cecil Francis Banton Jr. (Butch) and his wife Debbie Stewart Banton and Anthony Lee Banton (Tony) and his wife Karen Floyd Banton; his three grandsons, Christopher Travis Banton, Brian Lee Banton and his wife Tabatha Marie Banton and Jeremy Neal Banton and his wife Vicky Marie Banton; his granddaughter, Brittany Banton Crawley and her husband Daniel Wade Crawley, his three great grandsons, Rylan Neal Banton, Colton Daniel Crawley and Jackson Lee Banton and one great granddaughter Taegan Marie Banton.

He is also survived by a sister-in-law Betty D. Banton; a brother-in-law Earl Shores; special nieces and nephew Debbie Shores Iseman, Cindy Roberson Stansell and Jeffrey Wayne Braden; special friends Eugene and Pat Taliaferro and Steve and Michelle Esterline and a special brother-in-law, Dennis A. Dobyns and wife Pat of California.

A funeral service will be conducted at 12:00 p.m. (Noon), Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at Temple Baptist Church with Pastor J.D. Surbaugh, Jr. and the Rev. Steve Esterline officiating. Interment will follow at Briarwood Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends at the church, Tuesday for one hour prior to the service, beginning at 11:00 a.m. and other times at the residence.

The family wishes to thank U.V.A. Oncology, Dr. William Grosh, Gentle Shepherd Hospice, Hospice Nurses, Ruth and Missy and his special Pastor, J.D. Surbaugh, Jr.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider Temple Baptist Church or the American Cancer Society.