Ann Gaskins Gay

ANN GASKINS GAY, the youngest child of the late George and Katie Gaskins, was born in Plant City, Florida. She departed this life on October 1, 2013. While still an infant, her biological mother became fatally ill and Ann became part of the Walker family in 1933. She was adopted, raised in love and reverence for God by the late Candis Walker Gillespie, Ceather Walker Chaney (“Aunt Cea”) and John Chaney (“Uncle John”) in Miami, FL. Ann received her academic and social foundation at the highly respected Boylan Haven School for girls in Jacksonville, FL. Boylan Haven was a private accredited school run by the Methodist Episcopal Women Society of Christian Services that produced self-confident, poised young ladies who were well prepared for college and life. This school was Ann’s home away from home during grades 7-12. While she studied there, she also discovered her athletic abilities and her passion for a myriad of sports. After graduating, Ann enrolled in Tuskegee Institute as a Physical Education major with a Dance minor. While Ann matriculated at Tuskegee Institute, which is located in Tuskegee Alabama, she met the love of her life, the late Harold Eugene Gay. After Ann graduated with her Bachelors, she and Harold married, moved to Norfolk VA and had one child, Annette Maria Gay. Ann was a devoted wife, an excellent home maker and a nurturing mother. In 1958, her new family moved to Hanover, VA where she and her husband worked together as house-parents at a reformatory school for boys. In this position, Ann was able to leverage her teaching skills and dance background while employed at the school. She maintained a healthy, happy home for her family. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing cards — Pinochle and Rook, and Monopoly for long hours with friends and family. She was always ready to go out dancing and enjoy the company of Harold. She also formed strong family bonds with Harold’s parents and siblings while living on campus in Hanover. In the summer of 1966 Ann, Harold and Annette moved to Baltimore, MD. They regularly attended Bethel AME Church together, ate specially prepared Sunday breakfasts and went for Sunday rides. Ann obtained employment with Baltimore Public Schools as a Physical Education teacher at Eastern High School. Ann enjoyed a twenty year tenure as a significant part of the Eastern High School family. After Eastern closed, she continued her career as a Phys Ed teacher at Patterson High School. Over the years, Ann taught thousands of students and coached a multitude of sports including volleyball and tennis. She thoroughly enjoyed running into former students in her travels, even if she did not remember all of their names. Ann was fully committed to family and believed that they should do things together. Even after working all day, she made certain that her family ate home cooked dinners together. An excellent cook, Ann was well known for potato salad, banana pudding, macaroni & cheese, greens and more. She also enjoyed eating out. The family enjoyed traveling and playing tennis together and Ann always looked forward to visiting out of town family and attending family reunions. In 1996, Ann retired from Baltimore City Public Schools and she reveled in her freedom to “do what she wanted — when she wanted.” She enjoyed many things including going to church on Sundays, reading the newspaper, spending time with her grandchildren, going to Atlantic City, watching sports on television and most of all shopping. Ann believed in God and recognized His love in her life at an early age. She rededicated her life to Jesus Christ in 1978 at Bethel AME Church and served on the Daniel Payne Scholarship committee. There was no doubt that her relationship with the Lord brought her through the grief of her husband’s death (in 1977), the deaths of her other loved ones and her illness. When she was unable to attend services at Bethel, Ann continued to worship the Lord with her family at Shiloh AME Church and at home. TO GOD BE THE GLORY !!!! Ann leaves to cherish her precious memory: her “one and only,” Annette Gay Fowler; her son-in-love, Michael Allen Fowler Sr. (with whom she was well pleased); three grandchildren, Michael Allen Fowler, Jr., Harold Aaron Fowler, Ayanna Margaret Fowler (who were her pride and joy); one great- granddaughter, Malia Victoria Ann Maclin; three sisters-in-love, Loutisha Gay James, Cynthia Gay and Doretha Gay; one brother-in-love, Willis E Gay; one lifelong friend/“sister,” Gloria Myles; nephew, Pine McCullough; Loren Maclin and host of other beloved family members and friends.

Tributes

Ann Gaskins Gay

November 28, 1933 - October 1, 2013