Fannie Mary Fairbanks, 97 years of age, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 28, 2024, in her home in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Fannie Mary Fairbanks was born on January 4, 1927 in the county of Tuscaloosa and the City of Cottondale Alabama. She was the third oldest of 14 children, Fannie was preceded in death by her father, Rev. Henry Allen Hamner, and her mother, Mary Lou (Gunn) Hamner, and her husband Robert Fairbanks, who was the love of her life. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Sam, Allen, Grover, Paul, Riley and John; her sisters, Gladys and Sally Ann, and her children, James, Robert Jr. Gerald (Dominica) and Sam.

At the age of nine, she traveled with her father playing the piano at various churches where he was preaching. She graduated from Druid High School and furthered her education by completing two years at Stillman College in Alabama. At age 20, Fannie left Alabama heading to Cincinnati, Ohio to escape the Jim Crow south where she moved in with her brother, Allen and his wife. Once she arrived in Cincinnati, she got a job immediately cleaning houses for $1 an hour. Her goal was to make enough money to move the rest of her brothers and sister out of the South and up to Cincinnati with her. She accomplished some of her goals and sent for them one at a time until the majority were here. She took care of her brothers and sister, making sure they all finished school. After residing and working in Cincinnati for a couple of years, she met the love of her life, Robert J. Fairbanks, and they were later married.

In 1955, she and Robert decided to go to Alabama and move her parents and her brother to Cincinnati, which completed her goal of moving her entire family out of the South.

Fannie accepted Christ at an early age at New Saint Paul Baptist Church, under Rev B. Bursy. She has always been a God-fearing woman. When she got to Cincinnati, she joined The First Born Church of the Living God, where the late Bishop Potter was the Pastor, and later joined Progressive Baptist under the leadership of the late Rev. C.A. Threatts where she started a kitchen to feed the homeless every Wednesday. Feeding people were one of her passions because she believed no one should go without something to eat. Then she joined Tryed Stone Missionary Baptist Church, under the Leadership of the late Pastor Anderson Culbreath, where she became a deaconess and was able to join the missions... a group dedicated to feeding and benevolence. She also participated with the Keenagers (Elderly ministry) of the church.

While working, Fannie was a caregiver to her husband and their children. She also took care of her siblings and even one of her brothers-in-law teaching him to read and sign his name. One of her many passions was reading; she was an avid reader. She was a collector of books and loved to share knowledge with her family.

Fannie and Robert were the first African Americans to own a souvenir stand in The City of Cincinnati Sports Service. They worked at Crossley Field which later became Riverfront Stadium. Fannie became a Cincinnati Reds Fan and cheered them on until death.

Fannie Fairbanks was a woman of strength, courage, and wisdom. She was passionate about educating others on the importance of their right to vote. She had a great memory and sense of direction even though she did not know how to drive.

Fannie, at the age of 97, leaves behind a loving family who will cherish her great faith and memory. She took pride in fact that she could talk about her 18 children. She is survived by brothers; Rev. Edward Leon (Arnetta), Bishop Larry (Sandy), and George (Lois); brother- in-law Curtis (Lula); sisters- in- law, May and Joyce; children, Rosemary, Anthony (Janice), Zerubabell (Shamira), Bobby Joe, Gregory, Deborah (Gerry Sr.), Theodore, Sheila, Janice, Randall (Yvonne), Gwendolyn (Andrew), Yehoshua (Tovah), Ishiyah (Ophir), and Tamara; daughters- in-law, Theresa and Rhoda.

Her legacy will live on through her children, siblings, 180-plus grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, great-great great grandchild, God children and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.