Dorsey Wilbanks

He was born to William Paris Wilbanks and Laura Jenkins Wilbanks on April 22, 1927 in Lakemont, Georgia.  He grew up in Lakemont and then Demorest, where he graduated high school.  After serving in the Navy at the end of WWII, Mr. Wilbanks attended Piedmont College and completed his B.S. degree in business at the Atlanta division of The University of Georgia, now Georgia State University. 

Working in retail sales in Atlanta, he met and married Nelda Queen in 1958.  The couple moved their family to Gainesville in 1971 where he began his real estate career with Lee Waldrip Realty.  He eventually opened Dorsey Wilbanks Realty and retired in partnership with Jack Waldrip. 

Mr. Wilbanks was a former member of Central Baptist Church and a present member of First Baptist Church of Gainesville.

Dorsey Wilbanks had a sincere passion for spreading the gospel of Christ.  He served Him faithfully through various outreaches, including – 45 years with The Gideons International, weekly jail and Youth Detention Center ministries, and through his own missions organization, Volunteer Missions Abroad.  He received the Hearts of Gold award in 2005 for his many hours of volunteer service for the Gainesville/Hall County community.  He was also a member of the Gainesville Lions Club.

Mr. Wilbanks was preceded in death by his parents and by his four siblings, Paralee Wilbanks Brown, W. P. Wilbanks, Bartley Wilbanks, and Lindsey Wilbanks.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Nelda Wilbanks, Gainesville; sons and daughters-in-law, Mark and Zandy Wilbanks, St. Simons Island, Ga., Rick and Kathy Wilbanks, Cleveland; Tim Wilbanks, Gainesville; daughter and son-in-law, Joy and Fred McKinnon, St. Simons Island, Ga., grandchildren, Ricky Wilbanks, Madeline Wilbanks, Maddie and Lexie Wilbanks, Megan and Austin Morgan, Lauren Wilbanks, Jon Michael McKinnon, Will McKinnon, Rebecca and Andrew McKinnon, great grandson, Maddox Morgan.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday April 22, 2017 in the Chapel of First Baptist Church on Green Street. Dr. Bill Coates and Rev. Bruce Fields will officiate.  Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at Little & Davenport Funeral Home Friday April 21, 2017 from 6-8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Gideons International, P O Box 2914 Gainesville, Ga. 30503.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements.