Macy Lee Bannister

Macy Lee Bannister was born April 27, 1934 in Greenwood, SC, to Robert Cole & Gertrude Kinnard Cole and was the youngest of 2 children. Macy and her sister Lillie were raised in Brooklyn NY where she resided most of her life. Upon completing school Macy went to work for Madame Alexander Dolls where her love of porcelain dolls began. During this time, she met and married Robert “Bobby” Klass and they welcomed two beautiful children Tony & “Gwenny”.  After being hired by AT&T Macy became an Overseas Operator where she worked for 35 years 33 of those years on Canal St, until she retired.  Macy was active with the NAACP, Voter registration and the National Council of Negro Women.

After retirement Macy packed up her belongings and headed south to Virginia Beach, VA where she married her longtime friend Frank Bannister.  Macy and Frank traveled the world in their retirement, going to Alaska, Europe the Caribbean and more!  Macy also doted on her grandchildren and enjoyed attending their events and was their biggest fan! Macy and Frank were married for 29 years prior to his passing. Macy volunteered with the local democratic party where she along with Frank worked the phones calling people asking for their vote for Barack H Obama.  If you knew Macy you knew that she was going to talk to you about President Obama, she’s probably petitioning God right now to make it so that he can run a third term!

Macy was a former member of Pleasant Grove Baptist church under Bishop Darryl Scott Sr. where she volunteered with the Pastors Aide & Golden Age Ministry. Macy most recently attended FavorNation Church where Adrian S Woodard is the Pastor. In her younger days, Macy was an usher at Salem Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY.  Yes, Macy was an usher, she perfected telling people where they could sit during this time!

Macy had an extravagant flair for fashion and decorating her home, she was also  infamous for her quotes and boy there were many!  Some of her most notable that we could print here were “I don’t take no tea for the fever” “the worst woman is too good for the best man” “they had a hand full of “gimme” and mouth full of much obliged” “You never burp where you eat at!” and “you know I don’t do fake!”

Macy was preceded in death by her parent’s, her sister Lillie Murray, and husband Frank Bannister. She leaves to cherish her memory her son Robert (Carol) Klass, daughter Gwendolyn Y Donald, Grandchildren Aubrey (Neshera) Madison, Derek (Melissa) Campbell, Briana (Leon) Klass, Justin Sears Motley, Christian M Klass, Cameron M Klass. Nieces Sandra James and Leila Motley, great-niece Melonie Smith, great-nephew Cesar (Michelle) Brown. Great-grands Dezmon Allen,Nora Campbell, Kayson Elmore and Alivia Madison. Special adopted daughters Sylvia Smith, Joyce Boyd, Denise Smith,  and Deidra Hyman; a host of relatives, including sisters-in-laws, nephews, nieces and god-children near and far.

“ Love, Peace and Happiness Always”