Tallulah Ann Bankett

Tallulah was born March 10, 1943 in Houston, the first of two daughters born to Samuel and Virginia Tyson. Her distinctive name was bestowed on her by her mother's favorite sister. Known in childhood as Tallulah Ann, she became affectionately known as just "T" to numerous friends. She attended Blackshear Elementary School and later Jack Yates High School, where her mother taught American History and Civics. While at Yates, she met John Wesley Bankett, who would ultimately become her husband. Tallulah graduated Yates as a member of the Class of 1960. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she lived with relatives while attending Los Angeles City College (LACC). While at LACC, John and Tallulah reconnected, eventually marrying and becoming the parents of daughter Stephani Lynn. They later moved back to Houston because of an illness in the family. After several years, the couple settled in their first home in the South Park section of Houston and welcomed their second child, John Wesley Jr. For the next few years, Tallulah was kept busy working and completing her degree in education at Texas Southern University. She joined the Houston Independent School District as an elementary school teacher, spending most of her teaching career at Wesley Elementary for 15+ years, later transferring to Highland Heights Elementary and retiring from Houston Gardens Elementary School. Although she taught several grades, she often said that her favorite was Pre-K because the 4-yearolds were still sweet and eager to please. During her 35+ years as a teacher, Tallulah touched the lives of hundreds of youngsters. Even after her retirement, she was frequently approached by former students or their families during her travels around the city. As a child and young woman, she had attended Trinity East Methodist Church. But soon after the Bankett family moved to Northwest Houston, Tallulah connected with Bishop James Dixon and became a Visioneer of The Community Of Faith Church on July 11, 1993. She served with Good Gang USA, Living Legends, Christian Education Teacher, Food Bank, Dominion Prep Academy and Deacon's Wives Ministry. Those who knew her also knew how fond she was of Bishop James Dixon II and she eventually became a pastoral aide to the bishop. Tallulah enjoyed traveling with her husband to family reunions around the country and to Europe, taking cruises or just paying impromptu visits with her numerous friends and acquaintances. She also proudly spoke of having seen Jerusalem twice. She was preceded in death by her parents. Tallulah is survived by her husband of 49 years, John Wesley Sr.; daughter Stephani Lynn; son John Wesley Jr. (Natasha); three grandchildren: John Wesley III "Jay", Jade, Jordan, sister Virginia L. Tyson along with a host of family and friends.