Kirk Nathaniel Gaskins

KIRK NATHANIEL GASKINS JR., son of the late Kirk Sr. and Ella Finley Gaskins, was born on April 16, 1931 in Winchester, Va. He departed this life on April 3, 2006 after a brief illness. He graduated from Douglass High School in 1949. He attended Virginia State College (Petersburg), Storer College (Harpers Ferry, W. Va., B.S.) and Bowie State University (Bowie, Md., M.S.). Kirk's first teaching position was at Andrew Jackson School in Luray, Va. He then spent most of his educational teaching career with a challenging opportunity that presented itself at the D. C. Children's Center, Laurel, Md. There, he spent thirty-two years, starting as a counselor, continuing on to teach science, becoming acting principal, then principal before retiring. While teaching in Luray, Va., Kirk met and married a fellow teacher, Mary Davis. From this union were two children, Kirk, III and Daphne Monique. Mary passed in 1995. While attending a Storer College reunion, Kirk and Margaret Willis Summerville, former classmate and educator, became friends. They were married in 2000. Margaret brought to the union three children from a previous marriage, Inga S. Moten, Ivan K. (deceased) and Irwin K. At an early age, Kirk joined Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Winchester, Va. As a member of Mt. Carmel, he attended Bible School. In later years, he joined Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Baltimore, Md. Kirk embraced his work with the Trustee Board, Nomination Committee, Adult Bible Study, Prison Ministry, Rite of Passage, Harvest Ministry, Cell Ministry and the United Methodist Men. Kirk enjoyed his family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and life. Among his favorite activities were photography, golfing, bowling, reading, gardening, traveling, computing, and other mechanical inclinations, leading him to be affectionately known as "Mr. Fix-It". He leaves to cherish his memory an extensive close family that includes his wife Margaret, two sons, two daughters, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, two brothers, two sisters, two brothers-in-law, three sisters-in-law, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a cherished circle of other loving relatives and friends.

Tributes

Kirk Nathaniel Gaskins

April 16, 1931 - April 3, 2006