Althea Virginia “Mickey” Banks
Althea Virginia “Mickey” Banks (née Brown) passed away Wednesday, Feb. 18, in Dallas, Texas. She was 83.
Mickey was born March 8, 1930, in Wrightsville Beach to her parents, Frank and Drurie Brown. She was the youngest of five children. After graduating from New Hanover High School, she moved to Raleigh where she met and married Paul Kennon Banks Jr. of Garner. The Bankses moved west, eventually settling in Memphis, Tenn., where they raised three sons: Ken, Ron and Drew.
Though she never returned to live in her native North Carolina, her favorite memories were of boisterous family reunions at Wrightsville Beach and sunset walks on its shores. Even if you never met Mickey, some in the Wilmington area may recognize her namesake, the Althea B, her father Frank’s and brother Rock’s charter boat that was docked alongside the drawbridge.
Mickey is survived by her three sons, four grandsons and three great grandchildren. She was buried in a private ceremony Feb. 22. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hope From Helen: P.O. Box 187 Wrightsville Beach, N.C. 28480.
