Lady Henri hails from LaGrange, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. She was an active member of St. Paul CME Church, in Chicago-proper, where she served as a youth leader, choir member, liturgical dancer, and a member of the usher board. She attended Lyons Township High School in LaGrange and Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas where, like in her church, she sang in the choir and performed in other areas of the arts. At Bethany, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in the field of education with concentrations in special education, art, and English.

After teaching elementary school for several years, Lady Henri continued her pursuit in the performing arts and soon became a professional actress with extensive experience in theater, on-camera, and voice-over work. She holds memberships in the American Federation of Television/Radio Artists & Screen Actors’ Guild and the Actors’ Equity Association and continues to use and share her talents in the church.

In LaGrange, Lady Henri co-founded the CommUNITY-Diversity Group, a grass-roots organization that focused on equitable treatment for all people. She served as president and eventually directed its after-school study program. Her efforts resulted in her receiving honors from her local area NAACP and being inducted into the Lyons Township High School Hall of Fame as the first female as well as the first person of color to ever receive this honor.

With 23 years of experience in public affairs and fund development, Lady Henri retired from serving as the Director of Development at Morgan State University of Baltimore, Maryland. She lives in Owings Mills, Maryland with her husband, Rev. Dr. Raymond E. Banks Sr. The pair now work diligently in this ministry of which God has called them. Lady Henri is grateful to the Lord for their son, Raymond Jr. (Marketta), and grandson, Raymond, III. She is the daughter of Cleo May and the late Cleaveland and Esther Boyd.