Nelsie Mary (Deschamp) Banks

Nelsie Mary Banks, 89 and life-long resident of the Fenton community, passed away Thursday at Canon Hospice in Gulfport. She was born December 11, 1931 at the family home in Fenton, the oldest of seven children to Van and Mavrin Mary (Hoda) Deschamp. Nelsie grew up on the small family farm, a hard-working country girl who knew a thing or two about gardening, cooking and tending livestock. As the oldest, she also helped her mother with taking care of her siblings along the way. Losing her father unexpectedly at 13 only added more to an already full plate, but Nelsie did what she had to do to keep everything going. She attended Kiln school and there met a handsome, young Johnny Banks. They married young and made their home in Fenton as well. Nelsie was a loving daughter, sister, wife and mother, who was definitely family-oriented. She was very close to all her siblings through life and loved her neighbors and others in and around the community as well. Nelsie was equally loved and adored, and was known to most people in Fenton as "Grandmother". Though most who called her Grandmother weren't "blood related", that certainly didn't matter to her! She loved everyone and was a "grand" mother in every sense of the word. She is remembered as the "world's greatest cook". Her seafood gumbo was "to die for", her collard greens "second to none", and she made what was claimed to be the "best cornbread ever". Nelsie was most a very modest woman but also a bit of a "feisty firecracker" when she needed to be, especially when cutting up with her sisters, daughters, nieces and granddaughters. She attended St. Joseph's in Fenton for many years until it was closed, then attended Annunciation. Remembered for her protection and staunch defense of all those less fortunate, Grandmother Nelsie will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was preceded by her loving daughter, Brenda Whitfield, her parents, Van and Mavrin Deschamp, and all of her siblings: Pearline Comfort, Gloria McAtee, Ella Strief, Thurman Deschamp, Lucille Mauffray and Orville Deschamp. Left to cherish the many fond memories are: her loving husband of over 73 years, Johnny; their children: Sammy (Charlotte) Banks and Tina (Danny Carl) Ladner, both of Fenton, Gail Ward of Virginia Beach, VA and Myra Shorter (Dave Longley) of Atlanta, GA. She leaves a legacy of sixty-six grandchildren, including 16 grands, 28 great-grands and 22 great-great-grands, many nieces, nephews and extended family, with scores of bonus grandchildren across Hancock county and beyond. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 29th at Annunciation Catholic Church. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM, followed by the funeral mass at 1:00 PM. Afterward, Nelsie will be laid to rest in the Alphonse Malley cemetery. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Banks family in their time of need, asking everyone to please keep them in your thoughts and prayers over the coming days.