Ms. Tory Mayta Banks

Tory Mayta Banks was born on Novermber 23, 1960, to the late George Banks and the late Emma Gooby, in Boston, Massachusetts. On January 14, 2025, she peacefully transitioned, leaving behind a legacy of love, dedication, and resilience that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Tory grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with her loving older brother Tracey. She developed a love for the Arts, Ballet, and Theater in her parents home as her father and step-mother, Loretta Banks, loved the music. Big Band Jazz and Classical music could continuously be heard in their home. She also had a voracious appetite for learning and reading at an early age. While other kids were playing outside, she could often be found with her bestie Stacey on the front steps seeing who could read the most Harlequin Romance novels in one day! By middle school, Tory was learning and speaking French and had moved on to larger and more complex novels like Beyond The Mayflower and The IIiad and The Odyssey. She dreamed of visiting many of the places in her readings and as an adult she was blessed to visit and travel to some of the world’s greatest Libraries and Art Museums in New York, Paris, and London. She also had a passion for history and culture and visited some of the birthplaces of the great ancient civilizations in South America, Egypt, and other parts of Africa. Tory was also a great lover of art, visual as well as performing arts. She enjoyed the theater and collected a plethora of art pieces from many different artists known around the world. Tory was known for her unwavering commitment to her small circle of family and friends. She loved to laugh and she touched the lives of many in her community with her kindness, wisdom, and generosity. Whether it was through her professional endeavors or personal relationships, Tory always strived to lead a life of excellence and make a positive impact on the world. Tory was well educated in the Philadelphia School System. She graduated from the premier academic all-girls high school in the city, called The Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1978. During her academic journey, Tory demonstrated exceptional talent and a relentless pursuit for excellence. These traits would define her future pursuits earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel University, a Master of Science degree in Nursing from Hahnemann University, and National Board Certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Southern University. Tory has a passion for helping people, especially children. She embarked on a remarkable career in Nursing, first as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Emory Healthcare System, and a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner for Cumberland Pediatrics. There she was a shining light to her team of professionals, a source of comfort and care for countless families, a highly respected clinician to her colleagues and a dear friend to all who knew her. Beyond her professional success, Tory was known for her unshakable faith. Her days were filled with prayer and gratefulness, embodying a deep and unwavering trust in God. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior as a young woman in Philadelphia and spent many of her early years in Norcross, GA worshiping and serving the Lord at Victory World Church. She was deeply committed to giving back to the community and dedicated countless volunteer hours to causes close to her heart like The Fox Theater and The High Museum of Art. She also volunteered with adult literacy programs, helping adults learn to read. She consistently donated to numerous children’s charities and The American Cancer Society. Her efforts left a lasting legacy and inspired others to follow in her footsteps. Tory was preceded in death by her loving brother Tracey Banks, her cherished mother Emma Gooby, and her loving parents, George and Loretta Banks. Her legacy will be cherished by her Aunt Lillian Terrell, her Best Friends until the end, Stacey Miller, Marcia Bowens, and Carol Wilson, her cousins Joseph Gooby and Marvin Burton Cornish Jr, and a host of other relatives and friends. A Legacy of Love Our loved one, Tory Mayta Banks, will forever remain in our hearts as a woman of faith, grace, and love. “Very Demure, Very Mindful”. Her extraordinary life serves as a beacon of light and a reminder of the power of prayer, resilience, and unconditional love. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten. “What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes part of us.” (Heller Keller). Tory, you fought your battle long and hard, always giving it your best without complaint. Rest now. Rest In Perfect Peace in Paradise Tory. Until we meet again…

Tributes

Ms. Tory Mayta Banks

November 23, 1960 - January 14, 2025