Mae Ruth Banks

LEXINGTON – Funeral services for Mae Ruth Wingard Banks, 92, will be held at 3:00, Friday, February 17, 2012 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 16, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel.

Mrs. Banks was born February 6, 1920 in Lexington, SC and passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2012. She was a daughter of the late Justus J. and Lennie Corley Wingard. She retired after serving 30 years with the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Following retirement, she completed a Nursing Assistant course at Lexington Vocational Center. She was a lifelong member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church, where she served in many ways including youth leader of Luther League, Sunday school and Vacation Bible school teacher, member of Prayer and Share and leader of the Rebekah Circle. She served on the steering committee that originally organized Lexington Interfaith Community Services (LICS). In 2003, she was honored as a Life Member of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. “Ms. Mae Ruth”, as she was affectionately known to many, was an example of true Southern Hospitality. Her love of cooking, genuine caring nature and compassion for others endeared her to many. She was a positive role-model in the lives of her family, church and community.

Mrs. Banks, widow of John Rhett Banks, is survived by her children, Rebecca Banks Sims of Poway, California; Jane Banks Park (David) of Lexington, South Carolina; grandchildren, Joshua and Shawna Sims of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, Rachel and Mike Winn of Oceanside, California, Adam Sims of San Diego, California, John David and Megan Park of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Rhett Park of Clemson, South Carolina, and Noah Sims, of Poway, California and great-granddaughter, Kiah Winn of Oceanside, California.

Memorials may be made to Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1430 North Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072.