Her grandfather, Luke Ross (1775-1844), was a wealthy man for his day, and had a well-appointed home, the furniture of which was hauled in wagons from New York City to North Carolina.

[7] Banks was educated in Wesleyan Female College, in Macon, and in the private school of Mrs. Theodosia Bartow Ford.

[3] In June 1875, she married Dr. John Truman Banks (1829–1880) of Griffin, Georgia, a gentleman of high standing, socially and professionally, and lived with him for four years until his death.

After raising her sons to the age of independence, she accepted a position in the Department of the Interior at Washington, D.C., where she was assigned to work in the office of the Secretary.

[3] Banks was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and was named a delegate to its Continental Congress of April 1910, on behalf of the Mary Hammon Washington Chapter of Macon.