Mary Virginia (Wade) Banton, (also known as Gege), of Drayden, Maryland, and Lynchburg, Virginia, died Tuesday, January 25th, at 6:35 am, at St. Mary's Hospital. Gege's health had been slowly declining for a few years, but most remarkably over the last several months. The quintessential Southern lady, she had just turned 80 on December 30, 2010.

Gege was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald G. Banton, and her parents, Edna Fielder Wade and Fred Roy Wade of Lynchburg, Virginia.

She is survived by her daughter, Linda Sue Banton Ball, and son-in-law, the Reverend John Ball of Drayden, Maryland; grandchildren, Stephen Frederick Ball of Washington, DC, and Mary-Patrick Ball of Drayden, and by her great-granddaughter, Alana Marie Ball, of Drayden. She is also survived by her sister, Shirley Floyd of Lynchburg, Virginia, and her brother-in-law, Loy Banton of Amelia, Virginia, five nephews, a niece, and several great-nieces and nephews.

Before retiring and moving to Maryland, Virginia worked for J.C. Penney's Department Store in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Gege loved her family and friends. There was nothing she enjoyed more than taking her grandchildren, Stephen and Mary-Patrick, to a variety of cultural events, ranging from World Wrestling Federation competitions, to the Ice Capades or to concerts of all sorts. Gege especially loved creating art projects with her four year old great-granddaughter, Alana.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am, Saturday, February 5th, 2011, at Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Mary's City, Maryland. The Rev. Dr. Lloyd A. Lewis, professor of New Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Virginia, will be the principal celebrant; the Rev. Darryl Stayton, rector of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Stuttgart, Arkansas, will preach the homily. They will be assisted by the Rev. Dr. Christopher I. Wilkins, assistant to the rector of St. Mary's Parish, and the Rev. Nancy Hildebrand, chaplain program coordinator of the Washington National Cathedral.

Memorial gifts may be made to St. Mary's Parish, P.O. Box 207, St. Mary's City, Maryland 20686.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.