Funeral services were held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada for Wesley “Wes” Bruce Banks, 56, of Grenada, who died on Sunday, May 4, at his residence following a brief illness. Burial followed in Woodlawn Memorial Park. Dr. Brent Barker and the Rev. Eugene Heimbach officiated. The family received friends from 3 p.m. until the service time on Wednesday, May 7, at McKibben and Guinn.
Wes was born on April 11, 1969, in Brunswick, Ga., the son of the late John Wesley and Rose Childers Banks. He was a 1987 graduate of Greenwood High School and attended Delta State University where he met the love of his life, Leslie Hardin of Tupelo. They married in 1992, and made their home in Grenada where they raised their three children, Jacob, Taylor and Morgan. He was the CEO of Grenada Paper Company.
Wes enjoyed deer hunting and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, and often traveled in the summer to St. Louis with friends and family to go to Cardinals games. He also was an Ole Miss sports fan and regularly attended football and baseball games. Wes also enjoyed playing the guitar, played in bands in college and had a love for music. He also looked forward to vacationing on the beach with his family each summer at Ft. Morgan, Ala. He was known for his positive outlook on life and for his great sense of humor. He loved his family dearly and was a devoted husband to Leslie. He was a longtime member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Grenada.
In addition to his father, his father-in-law, Jim Hardin, and brother-in-law, Russ Hardin, preceded Wes in death.
Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Leslie; his three children, sons, Jacob Russell Banks and Wesley Taylor (Haley) Banks, all of Grenada, and daughter, Morgan Hope Banks of Oxford; his mother, Rose Banks of Grenada; sister, Cassie Banks Veasey of Oxford; mother-in-law, Brenda Hardin of Tupelo; brother-in-law, Tim (Alison) Wildmon of Tupelo; sister-in-law, Renee (Mac) Davis of Tupelo; niece, Wriley (Wil) Freeman of Tupelo; nephew, Wesley (Chelsea) Wildmon of Tupelo; nephew, Walker (Lexie) Wildmon of Tupelo; six great nephews and five great nieces.
Pallbearers were Jacob Banks, Taylor Banks, Wil Freeman, Tim Wildmon, Wesley Wildmon and Walker Wildmon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society or the American Family Association, P.O. Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS, 38803.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada was in charge of arrangements.
