Arolyn Loggins Banks

Arolyn Loggins Banks, 73, of Oklahoma City, went to Heaven to be with her Lord and Savior on April 9, 2021 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Arolyn was born in Chicago, Illinois May 20, 1947 to Aaron Benjamin and Genievieve Darell (Criddell) Loggins.

As a young girl, Arolyn attended Booker T. Washington Elementary School and went on to graduate from El Reno High School in 1967. As a young girl, Arolyn participated in school plays, chorus and played clarinet in band. Arolyn earned a business certificate from Draughn Business School and an Associate’s Degree from Rose State College.

One of Arolyn’s earliest childhood memories about her upbringing was of Mary V. Ponder, a strong black woman raising four grandchildren and her son (her daddy.)

Arolyn worked hard and tirelessly, educating herself and doing whatever it took to better her family. She worked many jobs including: First Security Bank before becoming a customer service representative for Oklahoma Natural Gas from where she retired, receiving an award for 23 years of service.

Arolyn had many strong women who believed in her; those who could see what she would become in the future when she was still just a young child. G.G. (Lillian Cooper) was one of those strong women in Arolyn’s life that she gave credit to her success in life.

Arolyn was proud of the relationships she had with her children and their spouses; each one so special. It didn’t have to be a holiday for them to get together and just talk. What made Arolyn most proud was when she was able to transition from welfare to the working world, earning a business certificate, plus an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts.

She is preceded in death by her parents Aaron B. and Genevieve Loggins and “G.G.” Lillian Cooper, grandmother, Mary V. Ponder, sister Mary Mae McMurray, brother Cornelius Loggins, step daughter Kanisha Banks and brother-in-law Timothy Nicholson.

Arolyn leaves to cherish her memory husband, Donald W. Banks; sister Ella Mae Nicholson; four children Ronda M. Neighbors, Curtis W. Houze, Jr. and wife Regina, Patrick A. Houze and wife Mary, Torrance L. Cooper-Gross and Jura, Quarean Frazier, Angelique Banks; 17 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren and one on the way, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, loved ones and friends. She had many friends including her sister-friend, Marie Hatcher. They were travel companions and went all over together. Arolyn never met a stranger and has friends all over town—the beauty shop, church, the nail salon, grocery store. She was one of a kind and will be missed.

Visitation will be at Chapel Hill Funeral Home on Friday, April 16 from 4pm -8pm (the family will be present from 5 pm-7pm.) Arolyn’s home going service will be 1 pm, Saturday, April 17 at Emmanuel Tabernacle, 1015 N.W. 96th Street, Oklahoma City, OK.

Those who would like to join via livestream may do so through the this link: https://www.facebook.com/627900400703935