Helen Margaret Gaskins

Helen Margaret Gaskins, age 96, of New Bern, North Carolina passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2023. Helen was born at home in New Bern on July 31, 1926 to the late Henry Bryan Duffy and Helen Johnson Duffy.

She loved people as they were and never had a judgmental thought about anyone. She was a remarkable lady with a strong spirit and intellect. She loved history, geography, religion, her family genealogy and animals. She was a lifelong member of Christ Episcopal Church and St. Francis chapter member. She attended New Bern High School. After graduating she attended Salem College in Winston Salem. She married her childhood sweetheart and shared over 50 years of marriage to William Floyd Gaskins, Jr.

"We all are granted the gift of only one mother in this life. Her loss is very hard." Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Phyllis Carpenter and her husband Gary and a son Bruce Wallace, grandchildren Bradford Duffy Carpenter and his wife Keever and Caroline Carpenter Hagan and her husband Tyler, great grandchildren Cason Carpenter, Nora Carpenter, Stewart Hagan, Kate Hagan and Hudson Hagan, sister Georgie Duffy Kear, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents she is predeceased by her husband and sister Kathleen Duffy Carlin.

The family would like to thank Regina Monroe, the staff at the Homeplace especially Donnie Brooks and Bonnie with hospice.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in her honor to Christ Episcopal Church, Colonial Capital Humane Society, or charity of your choice.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Christ Episcopal Church. She will be laid to rest with her husband following the service at the Church Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cottenfuneralhome.com for the Gaskins family. Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Helen Gaskins.