BANKS Winter-Spring ISSUE 2006 Martha Banks King Celebrating a Humanitarian — Martha Banks King Martha Belle Banks was born January 30, 1900 in the family home built by her grandfather on New Hope Road, Franklin County (now Stephens County), Georgia. She died in Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida, January 8, 1985, and is buried in the family plot in Manasota Cemetery, Oneco, Florida. She graduated from Cannon’s Academy near her home, then graduated from Georgia State Normal School in Athens before beginning her teaching career in Banks County, Georgia in 1920. There she met and
married Bartow England King, who had recently returned from Army duty in France during WWI. Their first child, Mary Lou, was born in Mt. Airy, Habersham County, Georgia in 1922. The family moved t o M an at ee County, Florida in 1924.
Martha had a distinguished career in teaching and community service in Manatee County. She served as classroom teacher in five schools and principal in two. She was elected to membership in Delta Kappa Gamma, honorary society for outstanding teachers, and Martha Belle (King) also served as and sister, its st at e Alice (Terrell) Banks. p resident. She was charter member and president of Manatee County Business and Professional Women’s Association. Throughout WWII, she served as president of M a n a t e e County Chapter of the American Red Cross. At that
time, there was no paid staff, so it was her responsibility to manage disaster relief during hurricanes, to communicate between service men and their families, to conduct fun-raising and other functions of Red Cross. For this, she received a citation from President Truman. She served on and was secretary of the committee that established Manatee Veterans’ Memorial Hospital, the first modern hospital in the area. She was a member of the Manatee County Fair Board, Eastern Star, DAR, American Legion Auxiliary, and served as state president of Legion Auxiliary. During the summers of 1937 through 1940, she enrolled in Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida, where she graduated in 1940. She served her God and the First Methodist Church well as Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent of Elementary Sunday School, Chairman of Commission on Education and president of Susanna Wesley Service Guild. After her retirement from teaching, she organized retired teachers to teach basic skills (reading, math, etc.) to inmates of the county jail, many of whom were illiterate. In 1979, she received the great honor of having the beautiful new MARTHA B.
Martha Banks King
Inside this issue: Cemetery Clean-up On Hallowed Ground
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In Memoriam P.3 Russell Marion Banks, Jr.
Rev. Rebecca Dixon receives award for excellence
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July wedding for Seth Byrum and fiancée, Brandi Skipper
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Matthew Banbury to study in Tokyo
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Diane & David Leonard
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Reunion photos!
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KING MIDDLE SCHOOL named in her honor in recognition of her many contributions for the betterment of her community. Recently, the existing campus of more than 113,000 square feet was demolished to make room for the brand new facility on 17 acres. Just this month, Bob and Susan King attended a fundraiser for the new media center. Bob says the construction looks great, and should be ready for occupancy this June!