Valerie Lynne Bankhead was born to Charles and Allene Bankhead on September 25, 1965 in Florence, AL. She was the seventh live born child in a family of eight children. Valerie accepted Christ as her personal Savior at an early age. She was baptized by Rev. Thomas Sparks and became an active member of East Florence Missionary Baptist Church. As a child she was a member of the Sunbeam Band, Red Circle and the Church Choir. She graduated Brashaw High School in 1983 and Faulkner University. Opportunity for employment forced Valerie to leave the Florence area to work with the Discover Card Company in Columbus, Ohio. She eventually tansferred to Sandy, Utah and Midvale, Utah, where she later began working for PEHP (Public Employee Health Plan). She worked there for about 12 years and made many devoted friends who became her "Utah family". Valerie never married or had children, but the impact she had on those who knew her was powerful. Most people described her as quiet, but she possessed a gentle strength that carried throughout her life. Valerie was very talented and could craft most anything. Valerie was preceded by her father, Charles Clifford Bankhead; her siblings, Charles Clifford (Pluto) Bankhead, and Kevin Orlando (Hope) Bankhead. She is survived by her mother, Allene Skipworth Bankhead and siblings; Sheila Bankhead, Selina Bankhead, Darryl Bankhead, Sharla Marie (Woodrow) Pope, and Gregory Tyrone (Evin) Bankhead. She is also suvived by nieces and nephews, Kia (Jamian) Kirkman, Christopher Bankhead, Alexander Pope, and Faith Bankhead.