My name is Koria January, and I am writing on behalf of my mother, Jacqueline Banks, the wife of Dwight Banks Sr.

On December 30th, 2025 (at 70 years old), our family said goodbye to Dwight Banks Sr., a remarkable man, lovingly known as Papa. He was a husband, a son, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a veteran, and a steady presence in our family for many years. My mother, Jacqueline Banks, shared nearly three decades of life, love, and commitment with my Papa. What they had was built on faithfulness to one another through every season.

In 2010, my Papa was involved in a catastrophic car accident that left him with a traumatic brain injury and multiple life-altering complications, including atlanto-occipital dislocation (internal decapitation). By every medical measure, he should not have survived. However, on the opposite side of the freeway, a nurse and her mother witnessed the accident. They pulled off, turned around, and went back to the scene. When my Papa’s life was hanging in the balance, the nurse, who was a licensed respiratory care practitioner with EMT training, performed CPR. That moment was not a coincidence. It was the hand of God, and it changed the course of our family’s life. Because of that moment, we were given more time with my Papa. It was time that my mom used to love him well, bring him home for holidays and special occasions, and make sure he remained present and honored in our family.

Shortly after the accident and until his passing, my Papa lived in a long-term care facility for over 15 years. Even so, my mother never stopped being his caregiver, protecting him and loving him through years of challenges that many never saw or fully understood. For years, my mother made her way from San Bernardino to Pomona to see her husband daily! She continued to wash his clothes herself, iron outfits for him, buy all of his hygiene supplies, make sure his hair was cut, shave him, give him frequent manicures and pedicures, and ensure he was always respected and treated with dignity. She made sure he was treated as a person, not just a chart. She advocated for his care, monitored his medical needs, handled details others overlooked, and carried the emotional weight of loving someone whose life no longer looked like it once did.

Long before the accident, my mother vowed to care for my Papa in sickness and in health, and she has lived her vows out fully, without pause, without complaint, and often without recognition. There were many miracles over the years. They were not the kind that erase hardship, but the kind that carry you through it. My Papa’s life that was sustained for many years was one of them. My mother’s faithfulness was another. 

My Papa served his country in the U.S. Army, and it is our desire to lay him to rest with the dignity, respect, and honor he deserves. While military honors cover part of this process, there are still significant funeral and burial expenses. After my Papa’s accident, he required specialized care that his insurance did not cover, and my mother exhausted everything she had.

This fundraiser has been created to help support my mother, Jacqueline Banks, during this final act of love for her husband. Any contributions will go directly toward funeral and burial costs and will help ease the financial strain after years of selfless caregiving. My mother is very private, so this is not an easy ask, but it’s necessary so that my mother can move through this season focusing on honoring her husband.

If you are unable to give monetarily, we ask for your prayers, your kindness, and your support in sharing this page.

Thank you for honoring my Papa’s life and my mother’s unwavering devotion. Our family is grateful beyond words.

With Love and Gratitude,

Koria January on behalf of Jacqueline Banks