Franklin Roosevelt “Lil Bear” Banks

Remembering Franklin Roosevelt “Lil Bear” Banks

Our beloved, Franklin Roosevelt “Lil Bear” Banks, departed from this earthly life on Friday, October 22, 2021 at the Sentara Albemarle Medical Center. 

Life Celebration Service will take place on Monday, November 1, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Mitchell Funeral Care and Cremations Chapel with Pastor Tony Rice, Officiating. A viewing will take place at the funeral home on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. 

He was born February 15, 1939 to the union of the late Blanche Felton Banks and Matthew Banks of Pasquotank County. He attended public schools in Pasquotank County and worked for many years in Florida and Georgia as a field contractor before returning home.

It will be an adjustment for Mr. Banks family and friends not being able to spend time with him any longer while here. However, the silver lining is just as the songwriter penned, “When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus we will sing and shout the victory.” 

Franklin was preceded in death by his mother Blanche Felton Banks and father Matthew Banks, uncles John Wesley Banks, William Louis Banks Jr., Samuel Banks, William Brosia Banks Sr., aunts Mecie Banks, Janie Banks, his two sisters, Rosa Mae Spence, Brother–in-Law, Miles Howard Spence and Florence Johnson and one brother, Clarence Mitchell, Sister-in-Law, Ethel M. Mitchell, nephew, Joseph Bembury, nieces, Thelma Patterson and Beulah Mae Johnson.

Left to cherish Franklin’s precious memories is his loving daughter, Tonya Banks-Daniels of Raleigh, NC; son, Terry Saunders of Elizabeth City, NC; eight grandchildren: Le’meyon Walker, De’Nasia Daniels, De’Nesha Daniels, Terry Lamar Saunders, Khaliya Williams, Jayda Griffin, Terry Griffin, and Terrion Walker; his nephews, Larry Bowser, Ronald Bowser (Doris), Michael Bowser (Denise), Vincent Bowser (Eldred), Sherwood Spence (Clara), Clarence Tyrone Mitchell, Vernon Mitchell, Nathaniel Mitchell, Derrin Mitchell, Aaron Mitchell, his nieces, Blanche Walker, Susette Johnson, Susann Bartlett, Katrina Burke, Sharleen Overton, Teresa Bowser, Clemestine Pergram, Gwendolyn Johnson, a special caretaker, Shamalica Rodriquez and a host of extended family and friends.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.