Diane L. Banks "Di" Obituary (1953 - 2021)

Diane Louise Banks (affectionately known as "Di") daughter of the late Johnny Montague and Gladys Cook was born June 22, 1953 in Richmond, Virginia. She departed this Life on April, 13 2021 after a long fight to recover from a stroke which occurred in March 2019. After graduating from Armstrong High School in Richmond, Virginia she worked a short period of time for at Richmond Time Dispatch, a local newspaper and Richmond Memorial Hospital. She married Jessie Jones on September 12, 1975 and from that union they had a son, Antonio Tremayne Jones. Jessie Jones joined the Army and due to his military assignment, they moved to Seattle, Washington in 1975. She later moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1977 and lived with her sister Joyce Keys. She remained in Baltimore until moving back to Richmond in April 2016. Diane worked several jobs in Baltimore includ- ing the Baltimore Blood Bank, Pharma-Ki- netics Laboratory, Mercy Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Diane retired from Johns Hopkins Medical Center in June 2015 after working 22 years there as a Phleboto- mist and Laboratory Technician. It was at Pharma Kinetics that she met her second husband Nathaniel C Banks , Sr. Their relationship began in June 1984. Nathaniel and Diane later married and were together until her transition on April 13, 2021. When they met, Nathaniel had four sons from a previous marriage. Sean Banks (Candace), Marlon Banks (Annie), Andre Banks (Nika) and Nathaniel Banks, Jr (Anita). Diane and Nathaniel had a combined family of five sons. They raised these sons in a Christian home and taught them to love the Lord. Diane was a loving mother to all the children and together they raised the boys to men with sound values. The two of them went on many trips around the United States including Diane's favorite vacations in Las Vegas, Nevada. Diane loved life and she thrived to survive even after having a stroke and multiple medical complications. She endured tremendous pain for the two years after the stroke up until her day of transitioning. Nathaniel took excellent care of Diane and tried everything possible to help Diane cope with her pain and disabilities. Diane loved life and enjoyed cooking meals for the family and friends. She was very meticulous about every- thing from how she dressed and loved cleaning her home. She was always helpful to everyone. When Diane and Nathaniel moved to Richmond, they attended First Baptist Church of South Richmond and later became members of the Church. Diane leaves to cherish her memory of her husband Nathaniel Banks, her five loving sons, her sister Joyce Keys, her brother Charles Bolling and a host of grandchildren, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by two brothers; Linwood Bolling (Zeke) and Haywood Bolling, Jr. We know she had a genuine love and concern for her family and all she met. Diane will be sincerely missed by everyone. Funeral service will be held on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 3:30 PM at Mimms Funeral Home, 1827 Hull St.