Junetta Lee (Davis) Bankston

Junetta Lee Davis Bankston was born the eldest of four children to Bennie Lee and Ralph Davis Sr. in Pittsburgh, PA. She answered the clarion call of God to peaceful rest after a blessed life of 90 years.

Junetta spent some of her early years growing up in Oakmont, PA where she and the family lived with their maternal grandmother. Once she reached junior high school age, the family moved back to the Hill District in Pittsburgh, where Junetta attended Herron Hill Junior High and then Schenely HIgh School. Junetta graduated from Schenley in 1949. Over the subsequent decades, she enjoyed helping to organize and attend the Schenley High class reunions to catch up with classmates and learn about their latest accomplishments.

Before graduating from Schenley, Junetta met her husband Donald, who escorted her to Senior Prom. Junetta and Donald were married on October 28, 1950, in the family home. Their union was blessed with 63 years of wedded bliss and three children. In the early years of their marriage, Junetta sometimes worked part-time jobs. However, for the most part, she was a homemaker and raised the children while Donald worked.

In the late 1960s, Junetta took a part-time job at the University of Pittsburgh as a switchboard operator. While working at Pitt, Junetta decided to take advantage of the University's tuition program for employees and began taking college courses in her forties. Through her persistence as a part-time student over several years, she ultimately achieves her Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Education followed by her  Master of Education degree, which she completed in her fifties. While taking classes, Junetta also advanced from the switchboard to full-time jobs at Pitt as a secretary for the Upward Bound Program and later for the Learning Research and Development Center. The family was extremely proud of Junetta's success and transition from homemaker to college graduate and career woman!

With her credentials in hand, Junetta embarked upon a teaching career. She taught at several institutions during her career including Pittsburgh Job Corps, Bidwell Training Center, University of Pittsburgh, Community College of Allegheny County, and Gateway High School. Her focus was vocational training and she continued teaching well into her sixties. She was loved by her students.

Most importantly, Junetta loved the LORD: She was raised in the church and trusted Christ at a young age. She was a long-time faithful member of the Ethan Temple SDA church until her health began to fail. She loved her church friends and they loved her. She sang in the choir providing a melodious offering of a song to the glory of God. Junetta will be fondly remembered for her sweet spirit, her smile, and gentle demeanor. She leaves to cherish her memory her children son Donald Bankston of Pittsburgh, daughter Joyce Harris (Bruce) of Silver Spring MD, and son Neil  Bankston (Pam) of Woodbridge, VA brother Ralph Davis Jr. (Frankie) of Pittsburgh; 7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Donald, her sister Barbara Cooks, her brother Roy Davis El and her parents.

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