AUGUSTA, Ga. - Anna Margaret Shepherd Gaskin, 95, former teacher and homemaker and beloved wife of 51 years of the late Alva Dozier Gaskin, Sr., entered into rest on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at the Golden Living Center at Windermere. The funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at The Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Michael Ruffin, the Rev. Dr. Fred Gunter, and the Rev. Dr. J. Andrew Menger officiating. Burial will follow at Westover Memorial Park. Mrs. Gaskins, a native of Orrum, NC, was born November 24, 1912 to the late James Franklin Shepherd and Merle Marie Tiller Shepherd of Orrum. Like her 2 grandmothers, her mother, her Aunt and several cousins, she attended Columbia College, Columbia SC, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 1934. During her college years, she was elected to 2 National Fraternities (Sigma Tau Delta- English and Tau Delta Kappa- Science), participated in several sports, and wrote for the college Magazine, where she published short stories. She taught high school and coached girls athletics in Fuquay Springs, NC, Tabor City, NC, Myrtle Beach, SC, Socastee, SC, and Aynor, SC before moving to Augusta in 1942, where she served as a substitute teacher at several area schools, and was a member of Richmond Academy and Augusta College Faculty Wives Clubs. She taught young adult and adult Sunday school classes at the Hill Baptist Church. She was active in Vacation Bible School and the Women's Missionary Union, helped organize Senior Fellowship Club and at the time of her death, was the oldest member of the Church. She served as PTA President and was a life member of the Georgia PTA, served as Girl Scout leader for three scout troops and served as a local and state officer with the Georgia Homemakers Club. Most recently she was involved with the AAUW, American Association of University Women, raising college scholarship funds for young women at Augusta State University. In addition to attending 68 consecutive Gaskin Family Reunions, she enjoyed reading, playing piano, cooking, sewing, gardening, teaching arts and crafts and visiting the homebound elderly. Survivors include a daughter, Linda Gaskin, Jacksonville, FL., a son, Alva D. Gaskin, Jr. (Debbie), Evans, Ga., a grandson, Al D. Gaskin III (Penny), a granddaughter Kathy Gaskin, a special pet Peppy and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews in North and South Carolina. Pallbearers will be Wilson Folk, Doug Reese, W.M. Mitchell, John Ware, Harold Baker, and Ed Stalnaker. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday evening, September 15, 2008 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. If so desired, memorials may be made to the General Scholarship Fund at Columbia College, 1301 Columbia College Drive, Columbia, South Carolina, 29203. Please sign the guestbook and send condolences at www.plattsfuneralhome.com . Platt's Funeral Home, 337 N. Belair Road.

The Augusta Chronicle-September 16, 2008