Social and Civic Whirl: June Skinner Banks Honored on 80th Birthday

Junelle Banks gave her mother, June Skinner Banks, a surprise 80th Birthday Celebration at Mount Zion Baptist Church located in Norfolk on Middlesex Street in Norfolk. The day started with many of the guests who are members of the various organizations in which June holds membership attending the 9:30 a.m. morning worship service to help the honoree celebrate 80 blessed years of life. Following the morning service including communion, Dr. Charles Hart, Pastor of Mount Zion turned the ensuing birthday celebration over to the extremely capable hands of Junelle.

The welcome to church members, family and special guests was done by the hostess for the occasion Junelle. This was followed by the invocation and acknowledgments of organizations represented. These groups included The Links; The Moles; The Pinonchle Bugs; The Coalition of 100 Black Women; The Chums, Inc.; Club De Jouir; The Red Hatters of Mount Zion; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and June‘s alma mater – Fisk University. Mrs. June Banks also received congratulatory statements from President Barack and Mrs. Michelle Obama; Governor Terry McAuliffe; Senator Mark Warner; Congressman Bobby Scott; State Senator Kenneth Alexander (Mayor-Elect of Norfolk); Councilwoman Ameilia Ross-Hammond; and a Proclamation from the mayor, Will Sessoms, of Virginia Beach who declared June 5, 2016 as June Skinner Banks Day.

Members of June’s family; her close friend (little brother, Marcellus Heath); a representative from the different organizations and The Board of Trustees from Mount Zion gave glowing expressions about their experiences with Mrs. Banks. June expressed her gratitude and thanks to all assembled and especially to her beautiful, creative and talented daughter – Junelle. Prior to the Closing Remarks and going to the Fellowship Hall for a delicious repast, birthday cake and ice cream the congregation/group sang Happy Birthday.
We all wish you many more happy, healthy and prosperous birthdays. You wear 80 years like, as Junelle has declared, “Queen June.”