Beverly Josette Bannister

Beverly Josette Bannister .... April 3, 1953 ~ June 24, 2022 Beverly loved books, music (especially Prince), knitting, collecting recipes, Black Barbie dolls and the Dallas Cowboys. Our Lord God said her battle with cancer was done and called her to His Heavenly home on June 24, 2022. Beverly courageously fought a multitude of medical challenges over many years without complaint, and always with perseverance and a positive attitude. Beverly was born April 3, 1953, in Montgomery, West Virginia to Carrie Lee Bannister and Henry Rudolph Johnson. She grew up with the loving guidance of her grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Bannister in East Bank, West Virginia and later in Glen Farris, West Virginia. Beverly graduated from Dupont High School, Belle, West Virginia and West Viriginia University Institute of Technology, Montgomery, west Virginia. In her college days she traveled, singing joyfully, with Tech Collegiate Gospel Choir. That choir praised The Holy Spirit in Black churches across southern West Virginia, lifting every community visited. That desire to help people and community lead to her first job at City- wide Community Council in Charleston, West Virginia in 1974. In August 1980, with a 2-year-old bundle of joy named Kym and husband, Smith in tow, life, love and the universe led her to Carrollton, Texas and a part-time job with Half-Price Books, little knowing that to be an introduction into a family that would teach, love and support her physically, financially and emotionally for the rest of her days. The Half-Price Books Family! Beverly's' roles over the years ranged from clerk, assistant manager, manager at Farmers Branch and Preston stores. Her favorite role was 'Director of First Impressions' at corporate headquarters. She retired in September 2021. Over those 41 years, Beverly has touched, helped, mother-ed, and consoled almost every HPB employee in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. And a fair number of those spread across the country! with every encounter she tried to uplift you with a smile, or a joke. She lent a listening ear to many in the HPB as they navigated problems with customers, employees, spouses, kids, and life. Beverly touched the lives of many people, inspiring family, friends, neighbors, doctors, nurses, technicians and fellow patients to keep going and hold on to a positive attitude! No matter what life throws at you! She was a bright light in this world. All who knew her is deeply saddened by her leaving this world but rejoice that she now rests in God. she was preceded in death by her mother, Carrie, father, Rudolph, brother, Samuel Crockett and brother -in-law, Kenneth Wright. she leaves to grieve her daughter, Elisa Kym Smith; brother, Broderick J. (Brenda) Crockett; sister, Stephanie Wright; nephews, Jamal Crockett and Anthony Green; cousins, Henry (Regina) Newbell, Francis (Walter) Ramsey; special friend, Charlotte (Eddie) Roquemore and hundreds in the Half-Price Books Family.

Beverly Josette Bannister

April 3, 1953 - June 24, 2022