Roy Thomas Banks, who departed this earth on October 14, 2018 was born on May 13, 1930 to the late Roy Banks and Agnes Bank. He was affectionately called "Tommy" by most of his family and friends. Tommy was raised by his grandfather, Massie Tarry, and grew up with the values that most farmers hold dear. He believed in hard work, saving money, and keeping his promises. He was happiest when he was outside gardening, pitching horseshoes, playing checkers, or watching the Redskins. Early in his life he had a very lucrative career sorting mail on the train and he was based in Washington, D.C. However, when his beloved grandfather called and asked that he return to the farm to help, Tommy did not hesitate to move his family to White Hall, Virginia. In White Hall he not only oversaw the Tarry Farm, but he also became owner of his grandfather's store, Tarry's Store. In White Hall he gained a reputation as a tough, yet compassionate man. At the store he did not hesitate to extend credit to his fellow farmers who had fallen on hard times. Often he would allow a customer to walk away with a sack of flour or beans, and a promise to pay later. Sometimes that debt was not repaid but he allowed the person in question to work off his debt by doing labor on the farm. Even though in later years, the farm was sold, he always remained a farmer at heart. When asked, "How are you doing Tommy?" he inevitably responded with the same old line, "Fine as frog's hair." One of his granddaughter's, Andrea, gave him the nickname "Granddaddy Jelly Belly". This was so fitting as he indeed had a belly that shook when he laughed, and he loved eating "jelly belly" jelly beans with his grandkids.
Tommy accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age and later in life, he was a dedicated usher for Zion Union Baptist Church. On any given Sunday, he was always one of the first to arrive at church, and was a faithful servant until his health began to fail.
He is preceded in death by parents Roy and Agnes Banks; Ruth Banks (first wife); his siblings Matthew Banks, Rosa Burks, Abraham Miller; and his granddaughter Latasha Tinsley. Tommy leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Daisy Banks; two children, Patricia Brice (James), Roynetta Jackson; two step children, Helen Penn, Lewis Rose (Lorraine); four siblings, Agnes Hughes (John), Robert Banks (Lena), Joyce Banks, Doris Roach; a brother-in-law, Wallace Giles; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.