Charles Thomas "Tommy" Banks

Charles Thomas “Tommy” Banks, 68, a lifelong resident of Cleveland, TN, went to be with our Lord on Friday afternoon, April 3, 2020. He fiercely loved his family, friends, softball (fastpitch, not the slow stuff), estate sales, and the Tennessee Vols. He was a quiet man to most people, but those close to him were surrounded with corny dad jokes and stories of his fulfilled past. When he was not working, you could find him at estate sales, his second home - the Tinsley Park softball fields, or at home in his recliner with his cats - Silas and Sheldon Cooper (headphones on, listening to Rock and Roll, playing solitaire). His most recent favorite pastime was holding his grandbaby, LiliAnn. He was a graduate of Bradley Central High School and a member of West Cleveland Baptist Church. In his earlier years, Tommy worked for the US Forestry Service as a firefighter and Faye Swaffords as a mechanic. He retired from M&M Mars in 2008. After retirement, he worked in his vegetable garden and liked to take long hikes in the mountains with his fellow retirees. After fighting off boredom for as long as possible, he went back to work at O'Reilly Auto Parts where he found a group of friends that shared in his love for cars. He also worked for the City of Cleveland as manager of the Tinsley Park Ball Fields. He loved his ballfield/city family and thought of them as his own children Tommy was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Evelyn Newberry, father, Charles Granville Banks, stepfather, Jim Newberry, and his brother, Larry Banks. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jeannie Felker Banks; two daughters Sarah Banks Rains (Adam), Leah Banks Keller (Colby); brother, Gary Banks; sisters, Sandra Pritchard and Brenda Sigler; grandchildren, Jala and LiliAnn Keller; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and close family friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date. You are encouraged to share a memory of Tommy and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home is honored to assist his family with these arrangements.