Myrtis Ann Bankston Roughton entered into her eternal life at 8:09 p.m. on Dec. 30, 2022. Myrtis was born Myrtis Ann Bankston, the third of five children born to Arthur Leroy Bankston Sr. and Rosie Odell Bankston of Beauregard, Alabama, on Aug. 14, 1944.
Myrtis graduated from Beauregard High School in 1962. Shortly after graduation, Myrtis met, and later married, Stephen Homer Roughton of Mellow Valley, Alabama. Together, they built a wonderful life that they both adored, raised four children while living in Marianna, Florida, and later settling in Columbus, Mississippi, in 1980. After Steve lost a long battle with cancer in 1998, Myrtis returned to her hometown of Opelika, Alabama, where she built yet another life, meeting many new friends, and established a career at DataCount, which later became Wicks Broadcasting until leaving the workforce many years later.
After returning to her hometown, Myrtis reconnected with many old friends… some from childhood, and some from later in life. Myrtis had begun attending Providence Baptist Church and joined the VFW Women’s Auxiliary in Lee County where she enjoyed helping in many capacities. Myrtis cared very deeply for her family and friends and thoroughly enjoyed watching her many grandchildren grow.
Myrtis was preceded in death by one of her own children, born pre-mature in 1972, Richard Dale Roughton; her husband, Stephen Homer Roughton in 1998; her oldest brother, Arthur Leroy Bankston Jr. in 1984; and her brother, Oscar Lee Bankston in 2018.
Myrtis is survived by her sons, Ronald Christopher Roughton (Karla) of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Arthur Grady Roughton (Lindsey) of Birmingham, Alabama; her daughter, Stephanie Roughton Dunson (Jason); her grandchildren Leah Ann Roughton, Stephen James Roughton, Dalton Chase Gann, Caiden Ann Marie Roughton and Easton Charles Roughton; her sisters Geraldine Lipscomb of Grove Hill, Alabama, and Nancy Cargill of Opelika, Alabama; and her brother, Gary Bankston (Wanda) of Foley, Alabama, and a multitude of friends and acquaintances whose lives Myrtis has touched and made an impact.
Visitation was at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home Parlor from 10 to 10:50 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, followed by a graveside service at 11 a.m. at Garden Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Myrtis’ name to any part or program at St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Frederick-Dean Funeral Home is handling all arrangements.