Rebecca Anderson Banks

Rebecca T. Anderson(Banks), passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2022 after her battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on April 5, 1935, the daughter of James and Rebecca(Berry) Thomas. She was a Class of 1953 graduate of Southern University Laboratory School and earned her BA and MA Degrees from Southern University, Baton Rouge Campus. Rebecca was joined in matrimony to her lifetime friend, neighbor and Drill Sgt. Willie L. Anderson on May 4, 1955 at Fort Seals (Lawton, Oklahoma). From that union, four children were born. After over four decades of marriage, and the death of Willie, she married Mr. Odis Banks. Upon her retirement as a Reading Specialist in East Baton Rouge Parish Schools, she passionately pursued her hobbies. Rebecca enjoyed traveling, expressing that her favorite trip was to West Africa, where she discovered her cultural African heritage at the repository in Ghana. She was also known as a great cook who perfected a baked banana pudding recipe and as a creative gardener whose trademark was “purple” periwinkles.. Rebecca is survived by her two daughters, Anita D. Anderson and Barbara A. Grant (Nickholas), two grandchildren, Nathalie S. Malcolm and Kennedy A. Blache, two great grandchildren Karsen and Beaux Nicholas, sisters-in- law Margaret Jackson(William), Janice Williams(Leodrey),Gladys Parker(Sam) brothers-in-law, Monroe Anderson, Leo Anderson(Loretta), and numerous nieces, nephews and lifelong friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband(s) Willie, L. Anderson and Odis Banks, children Darryl Wayne Anderson and Nedra A. Malcolm, siblings Richard James Thomas, Calina Davis, Clementine Pooler, Sylvia Thomas, Elbia Thomas, Essie Bea Carpenter, James Thomas Jr. and Nathanial Thomas. Sister-in -law, Clotee Morrison(Norris), and brothers-in-law, David Anderson and Lou Allen Anderson. A visitation for Rebecca will be held Friday, December 2, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Central Funeral Home, 9995 Hooper Rd. Central, LA. Following the visitation will be a funeral mass at 1:00 PM at St. Isidore Catholic Church, 5657 Thomas Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70811. Burial at Southern Memorial Gardens immediately following mass.