A Life Well Lived, A Love That Will Never Fade

This was Eunice. This was our beautiful Mom. This was our Grandma “Gissy.”

Eunice Cantey Banks, 82 years young, passed away unexpectedly in the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 21, 2026, surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and sister.

Born on Sunday, October 31, 1943, in Charleston, South Carolina, Eunice was the daughter of the late Reuben E. Cantey Sr. and Olive T. “Ollie” Cantey.

To call Eunice 82 years old hardly seems fitting. She certainly didn't look it, rarely acted it, and had no intention of letting a number dictate how she lived. Fiercely independent, strong-willed, generous to a fault, and blessed with a wicked sense of humor, she had a quick wit, a mischievous streak, and an uncanny ability to keep those around her laughing—or shaking their heads, often at the same time. She was unapologetically herself, and those who knew her would not have had her any other way.

Eunice devoted the early years of her adult life to raising her three children as a stay-at-home mother and wife. Once they were grown, she began a new chapter by establishing her own residential cleaning business, which she successfully operated for more than 20 years. Her determination, independence, and tireless work ethic defined a woman who was never afraid of hard work or of doing things her own way.

An avid gardener, Eunice never met a plant she didn't love. Her fenced backyard became a miniature jungle overflowing with sunflowers, petunias, coleus, horsetail, ginger, and countless other plants she collected and nurtured over the years. What others might have called overgrown was, to Eunice, a private paradise.

The garden was also a lively refuge for birds, butterflies, bees, lizards, squirrels, and the occasional snake, which her son-in-law, Bradley, was called upon to remove. Eunice faithfully fed the birds each day, while one particularly spoiled squirrel learned her routine and waited atop the fence for its sliced apples.

Her plants soon spread beyond the yard and onto the porch, where pothos, staghorn ferns, hoyas, orchids, and other greenery flourished. Even the kitchen became a nursery, filled with cuttings and the promise of new growth.

Like her garden, Eunice's home was welcoming and full of life. Everyone had a place there, and she made visitors feel at ease. She had a gift for caring for all living things, whether they had roots, wings, four legs, or two.

Above all, Eunice cherished her family. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter fiercely and without reservation. She was their protector, cheerleader, source of strength, and often their greatest source of laughter. She was always ready to lend a hand, offer advice, or help someone in need. Her loyalty was unwavering, and her presence was larger than life.

Eunice was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John D. “Spanky” Banks, and her parents, Reuben E. Cantey Sr. and Olive T. “Ollie” Cantey.

She is survived by her loving children, Marsha Strong (Jonathon), Lorraine “Rainie” Anderson (Bradley), and David Banks (Jessica); her cherished grandchildren, Elizabeth Anderson, Victor “Trae” Baumrind III, and Adeline Banks; and her precious great-granddaughter, Amelia Baumrind.

She is also survived by her siblings, Amy Edwards, Leah Walsh, David Cantey, and Daniel Cantey (Agnes); her niece, Athena Malapit; her nephew, John Walsh; and several cousins, including her very special cousin, Marvin Cumbee, and longtime special friends, Florence Megna and Joyce Jackson.

Eunice leaves behind a lifetime of memories, countless stories, and a family who will forever miss her laughter, wisdom, and steadfast presence.Though her unexpected absence leaves an unfillable space, her family finds comfort in the many reminders of her: the flutter of a butterfly, the song of a bird, a flower in bloom, laughter around a table, and the quiet moments that bring her to mind.

For a woman who spent so much of her life nurturing the world around her, perhaps her greatest accomplishment was the love she planted in the hearts of those she leaves behind. That love will continue to grow long after she is gone.

Among the last words Eunice spoke to her daughter, Rainie, were six simple words that would soon become more precious than anyone could have imagined. They were more than a goodbye; they were a final reminder of what she had shown her family throughout her life—that her love was constant, unconditional, and everlasting. Though we would give anything to hear her voice just one more time, we will carry her words in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

Rest peacefully, Mom. Godspeed.

Until we meet again, we will look for you in all the beautiful things.

 And when we look up at the stars at night,

We'll know the brightest ones are you and Dad,

Watching over us with love from above,

Guiding our hearts and shining down on us.

“If I die, I love you.”

A graveside service honoring the life of Eunice Cantey Banks will be held on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Wilson Cemetery, located on Wilson Cemetery Road, Awendaw, SC 29429, where she will be laid to rest.