July 28, 1962 ~ February 15, 2026 (age 63)
Tommie Melvin Banks passed from this life into eternity, February 15, 2026 at 3:04 a.m. to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
He was born on July 28, 1962 in Houston, Texas to his loving mother, Zelma Banks and beloved father, Arthur Lee Banks. Tommie attended Trinity Gardens First Baptist Church and was baptized at an early age. After graduating Cashmere High School at top of his class in 1980, he joined the United States Marine Corp. Upon the end of his military service, he worked for the Houston Independent School District for over 15 years.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and brother, Arthur “Sonny” Banks, Jr., and sister, Eva Carol Foster, and her daughter, Jeanetta, and Tommie’s beloved mother-in-law, Linda Jean Sanders, and dear grandmother-in-law, Frankie Elizabeth Sanders.
He is survived by the love of his life, his beloved wife, Linette Banks, father-in-law Arvis Gray and step mother-in-law Sandra Gray, brother-in-law “Butch” John Duncan, his beloved sister, Sandra Parish, and her husband, Rick Parish of Waterloo, Iowa, their son, nephew “Spanky” Rick, Jr., of Arizona, his sister Eva Carol’s son, nephew “Jamey” Sir James of Houston, TX and his children – Mohogany, Niesha, and Brianna, niece Jeanetta’s daughter, Jazmine, as well as many great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Tommie made a terrible mistake and took responsibility for it. This mistake took him to prison and led him to give his live fully to Jesus Christ. All of his incarceration, he devoted himself to helping others find freedom and salvation in Christ. Tommie preached, taught, and ministered to other inmates and guards at the Telford Unit and Powledge Unit. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, many godly chaplains, Mike Barber Ministries, Brother Jeff Smith and Calvary Commission and countless other men of God, Tommie grew to be a strong man of God.
Tommie dreamed of a life in the free world and was just one year from that becoming a reality. He wanted nothing more than to continue sharing Jesus, preaching and teaching. Telling them about what God had done for him and could do for them. Tommie loved people and wanted them to know his Savior. He served God for over 29 years and he lived a life that mattered!
Plans for a memorial are pending.
