Ophelia B. Banner

June 24, 1929 – October 14, 2015

Ophelia B. Banner passed Wednesday, October 14, 2015 after having suffered a massive stroke. She continued in her recovery fighting to live on for her family and others that she loved so dearly. She was the center of her family throughout her life providing great food, comfort and continued guidance even from her hospital bed to all who surrounded and showered her with their perpetual love. She provided a spark of life to everyone she encountered encouraging them to better themselves and to do those things with their lives that she had learned throughout her life’s journey.

Ophelia Bailey was born June 24, 1929 in Walnut-Cove, N.C. to the late Armstead Bailey and Maude Welch Bailey. She grew to know and love her savior while attending Baileytown Christian Church along with her parents and siblings. They were a very large, caring and fun-loving group who farmed the land they lived on in an area referred to as “Baileytown.” Ophelia married James M. Banner, moved to southern Ohio, then to California and eventually to Newark, Ohio as her husband, James, was furthering his career. She stayed at home caring for their 3 daughters, Sandra, Cynthia and Carmen. Ophelia provided stability for the family throughout their travels and, of course, loved providing wonderful Southern home-cooked meals for all who cared to partake. She loved her antique furniture and accessories, decorating her home and wearing beautiful clothing.

She is survived by 3 daughters, Sandra B. (Alphonso) Simmons, Cynthia B. Brim and Carmen M. Banner, all of Columbus, Oh; 4 grandchildren, James A. Brim, Jared R.

Simmons, and China Nicholle Banner, all of Columbus, Oh and Dr. Joel R. Simmons, MD of St. Louis, Mo,, a brother, Beaufort O. (Pollye) Bailey of Winston-Salem, N.C. and a host of nieces and nephews in the Winston-Salem, N.C. area and Philadelphia, PA. She had many life-time friends including the late Mrs. Betty Tibbs, the late Mrs. Bertha Smith and Mrs.

Callie Rucker, all of Newark, Oh. She also had very “special caretakers”, Ms. Danielle Lawrence and her granddaughter, Nicholle, for whom the family will forever be grateful.

Ophelia was predeceased by her parents, Armstead and Maude Bailey, her siblings, Catherine Goolsby, Eugene Bailey, Beulah Martin, Nancy Bailey, Robert Bailey, Benjamin (B.F.) Bailey, Harvey Lee Bailey and her son-in-law, William E. Brim.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in memory of Ophelia B.

Banner to Kobacker House, OhioHealth Hospice, 800 McConnell Drive, Columbus, Oh 43214-3463