TIM MORSE: Bill Banks lived a life worth living

ALBANY — I received a call last week from a good friend. For those who know Jay Flynt, I believe he is a good stand-up guy who cares about people and wants to bring out the best in them. I could tell he was saddened.

As we began to talk, he told me about losing a close friend.

He began to tell me about Bill Banks, who had passed away on Jan. 3. Mr. Banks was often referred to as “Daddy Bill.”

I didn’t know Bill Banks, wouldn’t have known him if he walked up to me on a street corner. But I believe the story of his life is worth telling based on my friend’s account.

Banks was born and raised in Albany, graduated from Albany High and after attending North Georgia College, he returned to Albany in his late twenties. My friend told me Banks was guided by three principals — “God was his source and strength, his wife Beth was his support and he served others.”

My friend told me how Banks was the perfect example of what was good about Albany, often coined as “The Good Life City.” He told me how Banks loved God first, his wife, family and friends. He also loved his church and pastor.

During his early days, he was an avid softball player and golfer.

But most of all Banks enjoyed serving the next generation of people at Sherwood Recreation or the Exchange Club. I was also told how Banks, a member of the Exchange Club, looked forward to the first week in November. While he played a key role in helping operate the fair, it was also an opportunity to show his love for people.

“Every Wednesday you would find Bill serving at Legacy Park at Sherwood,” Flynt said. “Some days it was for many and some days it was for one, but he knew that serving was loving and Bill was never going to miss an opportunity to love on people.”

Banks passed away on Jan. 3, doing what he loved doing — serving others and loving people.

The night before his passing when the storms hit Albany, he had went outside to survey the damage of a neighbor’s home. When he noticed the damage was extensive, he offered his neighbors his home even though he had no electricity.

I could tell Banks was special. I wished I had known him.

You see, our media and newspapers are full of stories every day chronicling some murder, robbery attempt or some other heinous act. Certainly, we don’t tell enough stories about people like Bill Banks.

It’s a fact that surrounding yourself with good people brings positive results. Surrounding yourself with bad people who exhibit negative or questionable behaviour can bring negative results.

I’m not sure how many visitors were at Banks’ visitation and his funeral. However, if this guy served and loved others, I’m sure there weren’t enough seats in the funeral home.

All of us are here for a short time and we have choices of how we are going to live our lives. It seems that Mr. Bill Banks lived his to the fullest.

And I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to know him because his life certainly seemed to be worth telling.