James Michael "Mike" Bankston

A Memorial Service for Senior Master Sargent James Michael “Mike” Bankston, 69, of Bossier City, Louisiana, will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive Bossier City, Louisiana, at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

James Michael Bankston was born on November 25, 1953, to James Curtis Bankston and Martha Hattie Lee Rea Bankston in Shreveport, Louisiana, and passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2023, in Benton, Louisiana.

SMSgt Mike Bankston was a very accomplished, hardworking, and charismatic man. He honorably served in the United States Air Force Reserves for 36 years from 1972 to 2008 as a Combat Arms Instructor and served active duty from 2001 to 2002 in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was a small arms expert and Security Operations Supervisor with the 917 Security Forces Squadron and 93^rd Bomb Squadron.

He worked from 1980 to 1986 at Bill Hanna Ford in Shreveport, Louisiana as a Credit Manager and from 1986 to 1997 at American Bell Federal Credit Union as a Loan and Credit Manager. He worked for the Department of Public Safety and Corrections in Shreveport, Louisiana from 1997 to 2009 as a Probation and Parole Officer III and worked at North Louisiana Criminal Justice Academy, Plain Dealing, Louisiana, and Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office Academy from 2009 to 2013 as a Post Certified Firearms and Defensive Tactics Instructor.

Mike was very funny and witty and knew how to make people laugh and smile. His good looks and charm won him Mr. Louisiana U.S. Man of the Year in 1988 and won the title of Mr. Congeniality at the National Competition U.S. Man of the Year.  He was an extra in Steel Magnolia along with a few other movies. He also did commercials and print modeling for companies on the national and local level. He was on a billboard for Anit-Pest Billboard and did voiceover work (not singing) for Diesel Driving Academy.  

He really enjoyed hunting and fishing and showing off his sharpshooter skills as a competitive shooter and excellent marksman.

SMSgt Mike Bankston was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his daughter, Ashley Brooke Bankston and husband, Jeffery Pullen and granddaughter, Carol Frances Pullen. He was an only child, so his cousins and friends were like his siblings.

The family suggests memorials may be made to a local Veterans or Wildlife and Fisheries organization of your choice.