The Reverend Dr. Ricky L. Banks is a native of Camden County, North Carolina. He attended the public schools of Camden County, graduating from Camden County High School in 1972. Dr. Banks furthered his education at Elizabeth City State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Intermediate Education in 1977. His religious training began at Roanoke Collegiate Institute in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, graduating with a certificate in Religious Education. Dr. Banks holds a Masters Degree in Religion from Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, and had conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Theology from the Roanoke Theological Seminary, Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He has also earned a certificate of completion in the Christian Teacher Training Program from Shaw University Divinity School. Currently, Dr. Banks is pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry from Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.

 

Rev. Banks is the son of the late Adeline and John Lee Banks but was reared in South Mills, North Carolina, by his grandmother, the late Mrs. Carrie Eason, who went home to be with the Lord in April 2003.

 

Dr. Banks is the past Moderator for the Roanoke Missionary Baptist Association, past President of the Association’s Ministerial Alliance, Secretary to the Ordination Council, Chairman of the Building Committee, and member of the Association’s Executive Board. Previously, Dr. Banks was appointed to serve on the Martin Luther King State Commission by former Governor Mike Easley. In 2006, Rev. Banks was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. In 2016, Dr. Banks was awarded the Outstanding Community Leadership Award from the NAACP in Currituck, NC. Dr. Banks has also served as an Adjunct Faculty member for the Old and New Testaments at Elizabeth City State University and has served as the Secretary and Vice-Chairman of The Elizabeth City State University Foundation. On March 6, 2022, Dr. Banks was presented the “Key to The City” by Mayor Bettie J. Parker, and also on that date, Dr. Banks received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor presented by North Carolina governors.

 

Currently, Dr. Banks serves as President of The General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Inc. He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Shaw University. Rev. Banks has done extensive travel for foreign missions in Haiti, South Africa, and Jamaica.

 

Rev. Banks has served as the Senior Pastor of St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church for the past 41 years. 

 

Rev. Banks is married to the former Shelva Watson and is the proud father of two daughters: Dr. Lucretia, and Leah.