Violet Bankston
1926 - 1996
Violet Bankston served as the city clerk for the town of Oxford from1954 to 1984. In 1985, she became Oxford’s first woman city council member, a position she held for nine years. She was also the first woman to serve as mayor pro tem. Her 37 years of service represents the second longest record of appointed and elected leadership in Oxford’s history.
When she began her career as city clerk, she and one policeman were the city’s only employees. Her salary was about $60 per month. There was no city hall building, so she conducted most of the city’s business out of her home on West Watson Street. It was one of Bankston’s many duties, along with the newly hired maintenance supervisor, Roscoe Womack, to go out and read the town’s electric meters every month. Bankston was instrumental in starting Oxford’s annual Fourth of July Parade and worked tirelessly to keep it one of Oxford’s most cherished traditions.
As diverse and demanding as her job was, Bankston was always volunteering to extend a helping hand to the residents of Oxford – even driving them to their doctor’s appointments.
Violet married her husband, Curtis Bankston, during World War II, just before he left for his tour of duty in France. They were both 18 years old. They had five children and were married 52 years at the time of Violet’s death.
In 1994, Bankston was awarded Oxford’s Citizen of the Year Award.
When she began her career as city clerk, she and one policeman were the city’s only employees. Her salary was about $60 per month. There was no city hall building, so she conducted most of the city’s business out of her home on West Watson Street. It was one of Bankston’s many duties, along with the newly hired maintenance supervisor, Roscoe Womack, to go out and read the town’s electric meters every month. Bankston was instrumental in starting Oxford’s annual Fourth of July Parade and worked tirelessly to keep it one of Oxford’s most cherished traditions.
As diverse and demanding as her job was, Bankston was always volunteering to extend a helping hand to the residents of Oxford – even driving them to their doctor’s appointments.
Violet married her husband, Curtis Bankston, during World War II, just before he left for his tour of duty in France. They were both 18 years old. They had five children and were married 52 years at the time of Violet’s death.
In 1994, Bankston was awarded Oxford’s Citizen of the Year Award.