Margaret “Belle” Banks was Chairman of the Board for Central Piedmont Community College during the organizational period leading to the establishment of the North Campus in Huntersville. She served for 12 years as a commissioner on the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Board, earning the Order of the Hornet for her service. A dedicated history preservationist, Banks served for several years on the Board of the Hugh Torance House and Store restoration project. She and her husband devoted their lives to restoring Cedar Grove, the Torrance home-place built in 1831, and founded the North Mecklenburg Community Chorus.