Mazie Alice Banks

On March 23, 1915; the world was blessed with an Angel, Mazie Alice Banks. Mazie was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of the late James Edward and Jennie Elizabeth Banks. Mazie was one of eighteen children.Mazie grew up and was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System. She never married nor had children of her own, but was a surrogate mother to all the children in her family. When Mazie’s youngest sister, Naomi took ill, she immediately stepped in and assisted her brother-in-law William Sr. with raising their three children: William Jr., Zonda and Michelle.Mazie held various jobs over the years: Martha Washington Candy Factory, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and as a domestic worker until her retirement in 1996.Although, Mazie did not belong to any community church, Mazie had accepted the Lord as her savior and Christ. She occasionally would attend Bible Study at First Baptist Church with her niece Michelle. She enjoyed listening to Gospel Music and listening to her family members read scriptures.Mazie had and extremely generous heart, although Mazie did not hesitate to speak her mind. She took great pride in being very neat, which was evident by the perfect creases in all her pants. Mazie loved to laugh and keep others laughing as well. She was an avid walker and enjoyed going downtown. She was an excellent cook, and she enjoyed cooking for her family and having great parties and dinners with family and friends. Mazie traveled extensively throughout the country. One of her favorite places to go was Atlantic City. Often on visits, she would reminisce about the Good Old Days. Mazie would always say, “When I leave this world, the world doesn’t owe me anything.”Mazie was blessed with exceptional health until the age of 86. A few years without her sister Pearl and brother-in-law Bennie (Grannie) at her side she slowly became tired. No more bus rides or walks downtown; however she was still able to enjoy outings with her family. In April of 2005 she celebrated 90 years of life, with a surprise birthday party given by her family.Saturday morning, August 6, 2005, Mazie told Michelle, “I am not in pain, I am tired,” and the Lord heard her cry. The Lord saw the road was getting rough and in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 7, 2005, God summoned an Angel from Heaven to travel with an Angel from Earth to bring Mazie back home. “ and this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask anything according to his will, he hearth us, and if we known that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have petitions that we desired of him.” I John 5:14-15.Mazie leaves to cherish her memory and undying love: one sister, Mae J. Harlee; one brother-in-law, William H. Whitfield Sr., and several devoted and loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces and nephew and other relatives and friends. We know Mazie would want to extend a special thank you to Michelle and Zonda for their unwavering loving care.

Tributes

Mazie Alice Banks

March 23, 1915 - August 7, 2005