Effie Belle Patterson Banks
Effie Belle Patterson Banks, age 103, of Shady Dale, died Monday, May 19, 2014, at Abbey Hospice in Social Circle.
Effie Patterson Banks was born March 28, 1911, in Shady Dale, to Mamie Bostic Patterson and William Henry Patterson. She had six siblings who preceded her in death, and they were William Oscar Patterson, Ralph Wayne Patterson, Rufus Henry Patterson, and Frank Patterson, Mary Lizzie Thompson, and Mazie Ann Patterson.
Effie’s mother, Mamie was pregnant with her seventh child, Frank, when her husband died. Mamie raised her children all alone and supported her family by being the Post Mistress of Shady Dale. Effie often mentioned how much admiration she had for her mother who never complained, never tired, and always cared and nurtured seven children with patience and a kind hand.
Effie married at the age of 19 in 1930 to Wallace Landrum Banks. They were married for 58 years until his death in 1988. Effie and Wallace had two children, Mary Lynn Banks Blitch, and Wallace Landrum Banks, Jr.-both born at the stagecoach hotel in Shady Dale and both preceded her in death.
Effie was a member of the Calvary Methodist Church in Shady Dale, although she attended Providence Baptist Church in Shady Dale with her children and husband as well. Effie was an active member of her community, helping with church functions, vacation Bible School, visiting the sick and homebound, helping friends, and welcoming newcomers in town. Her great love was cooking homemade pies, cakes, jellies, rolls biscuits, and meals filled with Southern Comfort food.
She began working with the Shady Dale Farm in 1949. Effie treasured her years there doing office work and she developed a close personal bond with the Lynch family that lasted a lifetime. She retired after 47 years at the age of 85, at which time she was still riding a bike.
She is survived by her granddaughter and her husband, Lynnia and Thomas Maletz of Monticello; great-granddaughter, Rachel Rose Maletz of Monticello; niece, Kaye Patterson of Dalton; and nephew, Frank Patterson, Jr. of Dalton.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 24, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Providence Baptist Church in Shady Dale. Interment will be held in Providence Baptist Church cemetery. Rev. Ed Westbrook will officiate.
The family will receive friends Friday, May 23, 2014, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jordan Funeral Home. The family suggests in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Providence Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 15, Shady Dale, Georgia 31085.
Jordan Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.