Mary Frances Lee Gaskins, 74, of Morehead City, North Carolina, passed away on April 20, 2023, in Daphne, Alabama.

A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 11am, at Edwards Funeral Home. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service.

Mary Frances Lee was born in Kinston, NC in January of 1949. She graduated from Grainger High School in 1967 and graduated from East Carolina University in 1990. She married Ted Gaskins in November of 1968 and they moved to Newport News, VA. Her daughter Suzanne was born there in June of 1971, but a short time later they moved back to Kinston to be closer to family. Her son Ted Gaskins II completed their family and was born in January of 1983. Soon after, Frances decided to get her bachelor’s degree in social work. Her career began at Pitt Community College working in job development. In 1996, she joined Lenoir Community College and in 1998, she was promoted to Director of Cooperative Education and Job Placement. Her passion was helping students to succeed in pursuing their dreams of continuing education and advancing their careers. Frances spent 23 years working in the Community College system before retiring in 2016.

Frances is survived by her husband Ted; son, Teddy of Morehead City; daughter, Suzanne Johnson of Fairhope, Alabama. Frances was blessed with 4 grandchildren, Elliott Johnson (Auburn, AL), Bonnie Johnson (Chapel Hill, NC), Madison Johnson (New Orleans, LA) and Mia Gaskins (Morehead City, NC). Frances is also survived by her sister Betty Anderson of Jacksonville, FL.

In addition to her parents, Y. H. Lee and Leona Jarman Lee, Frances is preceded in death by her three brothers Bobby Lee, Charles Lee and Ray Lee.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Lenoir Community College Foundation can be made at PO Box 188, Kinston, NC to further the goal of education for everyone and help students be successful in life.

Arrangements by Edwards Funeral Home & Cremations. Online condolences may be expressed at www.edwardsfhc.com or gaskinsted@gmail.com