Gregory Wayne Shanks died in Georgetown, Guyana, on August 6, 2026, at the age of 74. He was born in Georgetown on May 9, 1952, to Eardley Shanks and Rita Shanks, née Shurland.
Gregory attended New Preparatory Primary School and was a member of the Queen’s College Class of 1971.
From 1975 to July 1980, Gregory worked for the Guyana Ministry of Education, teaching Art and Spanish. He taught at Tutorial High School and later served as Art Master at Queen’s College.
Gregory spent most of his professional life in art, graphic design and advertising. From 1980 to 1990, he worked in the Art Department at Design & Graphics (D&G). He freelanced from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, the late David King brought him to King Advertising as Art Director, a position he held for the next 33 years.
Art was both Gregory’s profession and one of his lifelong interests. He also loved music, beer, cats, comics and stamp collecting. He enjoyed table tennis and chess. He owned various motorcycles over the years and enjoyed cycling. He was an avid viewer of cricket and the Tour de France.
Gregory had a great sense of humor and was dashing. He appreciated the ladies, and they appreciated him. He was proudly left-handed and a proud member of the “Grammar Police.” He was a fixture at the beer gardens at Thomas and New Market Streets in Georgetown.
Gregory was first married to Rosemary Paul, née Johnson, was later the partner of Donna Bettencourt, and was the husband of Diane Shanks, née Gonsalves.
He was the father of Tracy Clarke, née Shanks, Seana Shanks-Plasman, Stefan Shanks and Luke Shanks; grandfather of Justin Macedo, Dominic Clarke, Abigael Clarke, Benjamin Plasman, Caroline Plasman, Emily Plasman and Ariana Shanks; and father-in-law of Darren Clarke, James Plasman and Amy Shanks, née Persaud.
Gregory is survived by his father, Eardley Shanks; his wife, Diane; his children and grandchildren; his brothers, Andrew Shanks and Mark Shanks; and his sister, Michel Evelyn, née Shanks. He was predeceased by his mother, Rita Shanks, née Shurland, in 1993, and his sister, Marilyn Joseph, née Shanks.
Among Gregory’s close friends was Mike Ten-Pow, whose friendship with Gregory spanned many years.
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