Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Grenada for Master Jonah Steven Hanks, 12-year-old son of Eric and Amanda Madison Hanks of Grenada, who died on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Park. Dr. Brent Barker and the Rev. Mark Williams will officiate. The family will receive friends from noon until service time on Saturday, Feb. 17, at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Jonah was born on Sept. 14, 2011, in Grenada, and was a sixth-grade student at Grenada Middle School. He enjoyed playing a variety of sports including baseball, soccer and basketball. He also enjoyed gaming with his friends and watching YouTube. Jonah was involved in children’s activities at Emmanuel Baptist Church and especially enjoyed singing in the children’s choir. Jonah was a good friend to many and will long be remembered as a smart and funny young man who loved Jesus, the Ole Miss Rebels and his faithful dog, Willow.
His grandfathers, James Edward Madison and Barry Steven Hanks, and great grandparents, Nu Thi Dao and Hoa Van Tran, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Calvin Madison, Mr. and Mrs. Robert “Bill” O’Bryant and James and Betty Hanks, preceded Jonah in death.
In addition to his parents, survivors include, his sister, Elinore “Ellie” Hanks; grandparents, Teresa Hanks Austin (Buster) and Hao “Thu” Madison; aunt, Emily Purdy (Jason); uncles, Matthew Hanks and Jeremy O’Bryant; cousins, Madison Williams (Coby and Wrenleigh) and Makayla Purdy, and great aunts, Gayle Goodson, Sandi Page, Lisa O’Bryant and Angie McGregor.
Tommie Bowers, Lee Griffis, James Gordon, Bryce Kirk, Shea Kirk and Daniel Roche will honor Jonah by serving as pallbearers and carry him to rest in Woodlawn Memorial Park. Braxton Bennett, Gabe Day, Luke Garlington, Rhett Gibson, Levi Makamson, Corbin McKay, Logan Prestridge, Jace Riddell, Noah Smith and Brendan Taylor will honor Jonah by serving as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada is in charge of arrangements.
