Emmett L. Banks

Emmett Lee Banks of Springfield and Herndon, VA passed away peacefully on May 26, 2021, after a life guided by the love of learning and pursuance of civil and social justice. The second youngest in a family of seven children, Emmett was born to trailblazers in their time, Reubena Estelle Banks, and Edward Langston Banks, in Chatham, VA. Emmett’s prodigious intellect and full spirit took him from Pittsylvania County, to North Carolina, to Germany, to Michigan and finally back to the place that he called home- Northern Virginia. He was a high school educator after his graduation from North Carolina A & T in Greensboro, and he moved on to attend the University of Michigan where he earned his MA.

In 1963, Emmett married Ruby Jones Banks, his true love, of Lynchburg, VA. She was a trailblazer in her own right and dedicated themselves to change in the world, through action and knowledge.

Highly respected by his peers for his commitment to shaping young minds allowed him the opportunity to pursue civil rights among his community and abroad through civil protests, in his membership in both the NAACP, and in his much beloved fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. He was beloved by his students, his “brothers” and most of all, his family which he gave his all.

In 1953, after OTS, Emmett was a member of the United States Army, serving in the Big Red One Regiment. As a First Lieutenant, Emmett trained the first integrated troops in Germany in the Korean War.

After service and then embarking into teaching, Emmett moved to Northern Virginia, and, at 32, was hired as the Director of the Health Education Division of the Fairfax County Health Department. He was the first “Negro” to be hired at a professional level, an accomplishment which was noted in the Washington Star newspaper in 1958. From there, Emmett went on to Washington, D.C., serving as Executive Director of Public Health and Emergency Medical Services until his retirement.

When he was not just Emmett L. Banks, he was “Daddy” to his last day to his only beloved daughter, Donna, and “Pops” to his son-in-law, and, most importantly, “Grandpapa” to his beloved granddaughter, Ruby. He loved learning, he loved educating, and he had an incredible wit and sense of humor that would hit you out of nowhere. With his passing, the world loses one of its finest individuals, and many of us have lost our favorite person.

Emmett was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ruby of 40 years; but is survived by his daughter, Donna Reubena Banks-Mey; son-in-law, Richard Mey and granddaughter, Ruby Langston Mey. Additional survivors include Bertha Banks Whitted, his sister and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces and nephews and treasured friends beyond measure.

Service will take place at Messiah United Methodist Church, on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at 11:30 a.m., with the burial at Fairfax Memorial Cemetery to follow.