Banks, Thomas L. – of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away October 20, 2014. Mr. Banks retired from Stokes Electrical Company and worked with the City of Knoxville Park and Recreation and the Senior Aide Program. He was a faithful member of Wilder Missionary Baptist Church where he served as the president of the Deacon and Usher Board. He also was a member of the Male Chorus Choir.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Kelly G. Gibson and Jamie DeHart and wife Ophelia Banks; son, Herbert Stapleton; daughter, Virginia Thompson and sister-in-law, Velma Phillips. He leaves to cherish his memory: 3 grandchildren, Valarie Y. Freeman, Shamiyeh (Glenn) Sims and Herbert (Tamuriele) Stapleton, III; 4 great-grandchildren, Shamika (Ebed) McRoy, Glenn Sims, Dominique Sims, Aneesa Stapleton and  family members to include Rev. Tanya ( Rev. Joe) Tolbert, Elizabeth (Robert) Goodloe, Baffin (Octavia) Harper and Ivan (Belinda) Smith, Chyrall White;  devoted friends, Hattie Prysork and family, Steger family, Alex Hale, Wilder Missionary Baptist Church family and Foster Chapel Baptist Church family. Family will receive friends on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 11:00 until 12:00 Noon with funeral service to follow at 12:00 Noon at Wilder Street Missionary Baptist Church with Reverend Johnny Reid officiating, Reverend Dr. Harold Middlebrook eulogist. Interment will follow at Highland Memorial Cemetery, Sutherland Avenue. Services to conclude with full dove release. The body may be viewed Friday, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM at Unity Mortuary Chapel. The family will assemble at 3920 Kenilworth Lane at 10:00 am.