Tenicia Ann (Banks) Gregory

Our beloved Tenicia Ann Banks Gregory transitioned peacefully with dignity, courage and grace on Sunday, August 21, at the age of 88, after 6 years managing her dementia and later Alzheimer’s disease.  When she was unable to care for herself with the help of her brother, she moved to Atlanta in the care of her youngest daughter, Sheila Gregory, and passed peacefully in a home hospice, surrounded by family and friends.

Tenicia Ann Banks Gregory was born on September 28, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan bringing joy to her parents, Rose Glassman Banks Rhodes and Dr. William Venoid Banks, and her closest first cousin, LeClaire Taylor, among others. Her father was an African American lawyer, minister and business entrepreneur, and her mother was a young Jewish immigrant from Russia. Her parents and 2 siblings, Alterio and Harumi, lived in Detroit, Michigan. 

Tenicia spent the first 6 decades of her life in the city of Detroit and greater Detroit metropolitan area. She attended Detroit Parochial Schools. She spent many hours in the Detroit Public Library looking for and reading books, playing the piano, and singing beautifully like a songbird, but she always treasured her private time alone. Although personally frugal, Tenicia was extremely generous with her family. As the eldest in the family, with a young mother, Tenicia was responsible for the care of her 2 younger siblings and later a half-sister at an early age. For Tenicia, family could do no wrong, and her family was at the center of her life and she was adored and cherished by all. She never cared about the material things in life, only the people she loved.

Tenicia attended the College of Education at Wayne State University earning a B.A. degree in Education, where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and later obtained a M.A. degree in Guidance and Counseling. She taught students at many levels, including elementary school, middle school, as well as Mumford High School, Oakland Community College (OCC) and Oakland University. Tenicia was first and foremost a mother. Her love and dedication to her children were her first priority.  She loved nothing as much as spending quality time with her children. She enjoyed sewing and made both of her daughter’s high school graduation dresses. Tenicia also enjoyed her summers off from teaching when she could enjoy summer family vacations and road trips, including one week each year on Walloon Lake, Michigan at Camp Michigania.

As a teen, Tenicia often drove her father, Dr. William V. Banks, all around the country as he set up new chapters in various states for the Modern Free and Accepted Masons and Order of the Eastern Star. In addition to serving as a master teacher, Tenicia was also an active feminist, civil, human, and women’s rights activist, and was also an institution builder and organizer of various activities in which she had an interest. She was very committed to ending discrimination and inequality in its various forms, both by race and gender. She and 2 other women with similar interests, organized the first Feminist Federal Credit Union in Detroit, MI to extend sole credit to women members. She fought for anti-discrimination, until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 was established, that prevented banks from requiring a male cosigner, and asking personal questions about a women’s reproductive plans, to determine if they were eligible for a loan. Tenicia also served as Chair of the Board of Directors for several years, in this credit union that was insured by the FDIC. She was an active member of ZONTA International, the National Black Feminist Organization (NBFO). She spent her entire life fighting for the rights of women, including fighting for the legislation of Roe vs. Wade and many programs for black youth, and was a trailblazer in her own right.

While working at Oakland Community College where she was very happy, Tenicia’s father requested her help in managing a radio and TV station he operated, WGPR RADIO and TV-62.  Dr. William V. Banks first purchased and operated the radio station and subsequently founded the TV station under the umbrella of the Modern Free and Accepted Masons and Order of the Eastern Star, an organization he also founder and headed. The radio station was the third black owned and managed radio station in the Detroit area. WGPR TV-62, was the first black owned and managed TV station in the U.S. Tenicia accepted her father’s request for help as the Vice President and Station Manager.  After his death, she continued then as President and General Manager of WGPR TV-62 producing news and stories from a Black perspective and opening up more doors of opportunity.  She was also on the Board of Directors.

Prior to her diagnosis, Tenicia spent many of her retirement years in her dream small and quiet beach town of Carpinteria, CA. where she had a modest home.  In her retirement, she appreciated a peaceful life, although busy with volunteer activities. Tenicia volunteered for many organizations and received 2 U.S. Presidential Awards for her years of service with the Braille Institute, the American Red Cross, Help Carpinteria, GIRLS Inc, and many others where she logged over 4000 volunteer hours and received nearly all the Red Cross training offered for disaster relief volunteering, including Katrina, up to the active age of 82.

Tenicia was a woman of tremendous strength, integrity and character, in both her professional and personal life, and was a role model and mentor for her family and countless youngsters and students. She was a quintessential reader and thinker, with a quick wit and was a joy to be around. She made you feel like you were the most important person in the world when you were with her. Being present for her family at all times, was an expectation that never went unfulfilled. She was a giver all of her life.

Tenicia received dozens of awards such as The Spirit of Detroit Award presented by the Detroit City Council, the National Black Women’s Political Leadership Award, Michigan and the Communications Superstar 1983 Award presented by Women in Communications, Inc. She testified before a U.S. Congressional Subcommittee Hearing in Washington, D.C. on the topic of blacks in broadcasting, and appeared on many panels, radio shows, television programs, and had frequent speaking engagements. Tenicia also had a weekly radio commentary on the current status of Blacks in Detroit.

Tenicia leaves her husband of 63 years, Dr. Karl Dwight Gregory, daughters Karin Diane Gregory of Southfield, MI, and Sheila Therese Gregory (Stephen) of John’s Creek, GA, her beloved son, Kurt David Gregory (Sarasota, FL), devoted brother Alterio Banks of Carpinteria CA, sister Harumi Banks of WA, and half-sister, Wendy Ogletree of Brighton, MI, and her grandchildren, Courtney Gregory Jones of John’s Creek, GA and Anthony Kelly Gregory Jones of Rock Hill, SC, along with many relatives and dear friends, such as Brandy Walker of Carpinteria, Janie Toth of Tucson, AZ, among others.

The family wishes to thank Tenicia’s former students, the WGPR TV-62 family and others whom through the years have continued ask about her welfare, send her chocolate and flowers, and offered their prayers and well-wishes. It was Tenicia’s desire to have a small family gathering and be cremated, rather than hold a funeral service. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/, the American Red Cross www.redcross.org/donate or the William V. Banks Broadcast Museum & Media Center, in Detroit, Michigan https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=4G7CQSNVFS2M2.   

We knew that we were unconditionally loved by you and you taught so richly by example. Although we cannot keep you with us, we are happy that the angels finally got you back.

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