Leslie Banks

Mr. Leslie Lee Banks transitioned to heaven and was promoted to Angel on April 27, 2020 at 11:06 a.m. He was born March 14, 1939 in Cliftonville, Mississippi to Willie Less Jackson and Addie Terry.

Leslie’s biological mother died when he was a toddler and he was adopted by his birth mother’s sister and her husband, Williease and James Banks. They raised him as their own son. He was a resident of Aromel, Arkansas until he was sixteen years of age and then relocated to Saginaw, Michigan. Leslie attended Saginaw High School before being hired at General Motors Corporation at eighteen years old. He started as a furnace machine operator and remained employed with GM for thirty-three years before retiring in 1992. He joined Christ Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church was a lifelong member.

Leslie, often called “Les”, was an extreme sports fanatic with his favorite sport being golf. He enjoyed buying brand new golf clubs and watching golf tournaments on television with his favorite golfer, Tiger Woods. Golf was also the sport he played with vigor. He enjoyed bowling in the 80s and 90s era. He bowled two perfect games of 300 and accumulated many trophies during that time. Another sport Leslie enjoyed was hockey because they let the players fight. He occasionally watched basketball, football and baseball.

Les was an expert video game player of the 1980s centipede video game. He challenged and rivaled friends as well as youth, playing at the former Al’s market Store in Saginaw. He still holds legendary titles no one has matched.

Leslie was a proud retiree of General Motors and drove their brand new SUVs in support. On television, he watched The Golden Girls, Colombo, Lifetime movies, and The Three Stooges.
He also loved the Michigan lottery and created lottery rundowns while sitting in his favorite recliner, reading his green Professor Grif Lottery Book. Leslie also enjoyed going to the casino and playing his favorite game, “He-Haw.” His biggest hobby was having card parties, playing the poker game Texas Hold-Em with his lifelong friends.

Les exercised every day on his treadmill, exercising bike and he lifted weights. He was always clean and had a neat appearance. He took pride in his personal presentation. He loved to collect and wear baseball hats and all types of Kangol hats.

Once Les learned to work his phone, he loved taking selfies with his only daughter. The two shared an unbreakable bond. His beautiful smile with that gold tooth was captivating and lit up every room. He had a magnetic personality that was outgoing, friendly and charismatic. He was always so loving and kind. Les was an excellent provider and father with a wonderful sense of humor. He had the strength of a warrior.

Les enjoyed old school Motown music as well as some new R & B music and some hip hop. He was very youthful and could relate to any age group. He was a rare jewel and one of a kind. Some of his life principles were, “Do right by others and God will reward you with blessings”; “Blessings always favor people with big hearts.” Leslie has left a profound legacy to his heartbeat and only child, Leslie LaToya Banks. She will continue to carry the torch from King to Queen. Job well done, Dad. Heaven gained an angel. Fly High!


Leslie was preceded in death by his biological parents, Willie Less Jackson and Addie Terry; adoptive parents, James and Williease Banks; stepson, Samuel Watkins; brothers, James Banks, Jr., Thomas James Terry and Walter Jackson, Jr.; niece, Deborah Marshall Fleming; brother-in-law, Lionel Terrell; mother-in-law, Dorothy Morris.

He leaves precious memories with his former spouse of thirty years and mother of his only child, Gloria Banks, Toledo, Ohio; daughter, Leslie LaToya Banks, Toledo, Ohio; stepdaughter, Audra (Tim) Bradshaw, Ft. Wayne, Indiana; step-grandchildren, Mark Bradshaw, Audrianna Bradshaw, Samuel Watkins, Jr., Kayla Watkins; step-great-granddaughter, Ja’elle Brooks; sisters, Ella Jean (Booker T.) Marshall, Kansas City, Kansas, Willa Eli, Dorothy Terrell, both of Saginaw, Michigan; brother, Willie Earl Banks, Saginaw, Michigan; nieces, Dwana Banks, Tomika Morris, Denise (Albert) Roberts-Maynard, Tonia Council, Janice (David) White, Beverly (Derrick) Marshall-Cook, Latrese (Oliver) Kabuya, Daneeka (Lawrence) Marshall-Oguendo; nephews, Lionel Terrel, Jr., Bryant Terrell, Dimetrius Jones, Darrin Banks; great-niece, Tianna Hall; special sister-in-law, Joann (Ester) Jones; daughter-in-law, Stacy Watkins; son-in-law, Timothy Bryant; many other relatives and friends, including special friends Gene Phillips “Geno”, Coach Marshall Thomas, Frank Zaragoza “Z-Man”, Joe Zaragoza, Keith Jones and Emmanuel Johnson.

The family would like to express special thanks to Pastor Lamont Holified, Super Hero Doctor and Nurses of Covenant Healthcare for all your efforts, Ivan E. Phillips and the Staff of Paradise Funeral Chapel.

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