Edwin Derring Gaskins, 96, of Alapaha died Monday March 26, 2018 at Tift Regional Medical Center.

He was born January 20, 1922 in Alapaha to the late Wilbur Murray Gaskins and the late Dona Hendricks Gaskins. He served in the US Army during WWII, was a retired merchant and timber farmer and a member of the Alapaha United Methodist Church where he had taught Sunday School and was a lay speaker.  He served as a director on the board of the Bank of Alapaha for 50 years.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years: Marguerite Johnson Gaskins who died in 2006; son: Robert Edwin Gaskins; 2 daughters: Suzanne Gaskins and Marsha Elizabeth Hand; and a brother: Murray Hendricks Gaskins.

He is survived by his daughter: Dona (Julian) Fields of Alapaha; 5 grandchildren: Dana (Barry) Echols of Cleveland, GA, Derring (Christie) Johnson of Alapaha, Julianne (Billy) Clamp of Tifton, Kimberly Bishop of Stevensville, MI, and Chad Cole of Moultrie; and 6 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

A graveside funeral service will be held Wednesday March 28, 2018 at 4 PM in Fletcher Cemetery with the Rev. Larry Hauser officiating.  The family will receive visitors at Mr. Edwin's home in Alapaha.