Today is my 67th Birthday, and I still don’t have a crystal clear understanding of my crash-landing into the world all those years ago. Adoptive parents to the rescue. I was born at 5:22 a.m. or 5:30 a.m, depending on the document, and it was on a Monday – just like today. I often wonder if my “bio mom” was sedated and never even set eyes on me, especially since it was a breach birth. The actual delivery took place at Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis, and that leads me to curiosity about who took care of me at the Suemma Coleman home where I spent the first two months of life.

Last year at this time, I hadn’t yet pinpointed the whereabouts of my birth mother or even held a clue about the father. A lot has changed in a short time thanks to DNA tests and direct communication with relatives. I’ve now identified 23 connections on my Ancestry.com Jerry Banister Family Tree:

23andMe DNA Relatives: 

Janine Marthai – granddaughter of Freddie Banister – son of Henry Otis Banister (father of my suspected birth father). I met with her mother, Audrey, recently – a first cousin to my suspected birth mother, Edna Faye Banister. 

Debra Vaughn – daughter of Donald Lee Banister – granddaughter of Ora Banister, brother to Clyde, Louis, Freddie, Joe, and Ivan (my suspected grandfather).  I will meet her in Indianapolis in late September.

Marilyn K. Banister – daughter of Maurice Eugene Banister, Sr. – also a granddaughter of Ora Banister.

I’ve also been in regular touch with Terry Grimshaw, a little more distant connection, but have yet to find his tree connection with me. I’m hoping to meet with him soon here in Portland.

Ancestry.com DNA Relatives

Julianna Proctor – my top DNA match and daughter of birth father suspect, Cecil Ralph Banister – only son of Arlie Banister.

Gabe Burkman – my second highest DNA match and Julianna’s son, Cecil’s grandson.

Ada Pershing -daughter of Burke Pershing who was a partner with Nellie Louise Banister, daughter of Dale Banister 

Tellesa Hadley – Cecil Ralph Banister’s only sister, Opal – her granddaughter.

Jesse Bramley – son of Richard Bramley, grandson of Iva Bannister, daughter of Lloyd Bannister.

Cathy Crews – daughter of Thelma Banister and Paul Graver – grand daughter of Freddie Banister

Terry Bannister – son of Wade Bannister and grandson of Lloyd Bannister. Lloyd had four brothers: Fred, David, Dale, and Arlie, along with two sisters who’s married names were Bernice Marie Sampson and Grace Eva Arthur. 

Jenny Bramley – daughter of Richard Bramley, granddaughter of Iva Bannister

Ryan Donohoo – grandson of Ruby Banister Sweany (daughter of Dale)

Jared Stinehart – son of Julie Ann Banister and grandson of Larry Lyle Banister (son of Lloyd)

Craig Findlay Banister – son of Randall Banister and grandson of Donald Lee Banister

JD Storch – daughter of Cheryl Banister Storch – grandson of Vernel F. Banister

Linda Thompson – daughter of Kenneth McKinney

These are the more distant connections that I’ve recently identified:

Tina Robinson Sharp – daughter of Vernon Roy Robinson, who married a Hubbard – a descendant of the Halls. 

Dottie Van Meter – Van Meter descendant

B Dillon – Foist descendant

L Wimberley – Wyse descendant

Sandy Stigdon – Van Meter descendant

Cheryl Fonville – Wyse descendant

Gail Lodell – Dunn or Hines descendant (fhines – another DNA relative- connects somewhere here)

To summarize my findings so far, there are DNA connections on two distinct sides of the Banister or Bannister family (some use the double “n” in the spelling). First, there’s the Henry Otis Banister side with brothers Ivan, Otis, Clyde, Joe, Ora, and Freddie. The photo that headlines this post shows all the brothers together but Ora. Then, there’s the Charles B. Bannister side that includes brothers Lloyd, Fred, David, Dale, and Arlie. If my speculation on biological parenthood is correct then the mother would be from the Henry Otis side and the father from the Charles B. side. These two were brothers born of father David Banister, so although my birth parents would be related, it would be a very distant connection through great grandfathers. That makes me a sixth generation Banister: Laborn, David, Henry Otis, Ivan, Edna & Cecil, ME, although my birth paperwork shows my last name spelling to be with double “n’s.”

Because it’s my Bannister Birthday, Portland kids get to go back to school today. Sorry about that!