Funeral services for Edward Clifford Askins, 94, nickname “Rooster,” born March 29, 1922, of Fayetteville passed away October 25, 2016 at 6:50 a.m. at St. Thomas Hospital, after a long battle of Multiple Myeloma blood cancer. Services will be conducted Saturday, October 29, 2016, at 2 PM at Higgins Funeral Home, with Rev. Jimmy Miller officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Gardens.
A native of Lincoln County, Mr. Askins was the son of the late Manley and Louella Ables Askins of Taft. Mr. Askins was married for sixty eight (68) years to the late, Carrie Evelyn Askins who passed October 31, 2012. Mr. Askins is survived by three children: Larry Edward Askins of Fairfax Station, VA, Fonda Askins Blair of Murfreesboro, and Wanda Cavaliere of Mission Viejo, CA. Mr. Askins dearly loved and enjoyed his six (6) grandchildren, eight (8) Great grand-children, and three (3) Great-great grandchildren.
Mr. Askins retired from Kraft General Foods after forty-eight (48) years, was a member of the First Baptist Church and served in the United States Army. After he retired from Kraft, he assisted “Nanny Mama,” who owned the Smiling Faces Pre-School for thirty-five years. Clifford was beloved by the daycare children who lovingly called him, “Paw-Paw.” Many of the children stayed in touch with “Nanny and Paw-Paw” through college and their adult life.
Clifford’s legacy among many, is that he made it known to his children that he had goals he wanted to achieve in his time on earth: a goal to get to heaven, to never say an unkind word about anybody, to be a Godly man, for all three children to put God first, have faith in God, and for each to obtain a college education. He achieved all his goals. He is fondly remembered by the grandchildren as loving, always smiling, happy and holding them in his lap, and reading the bible to them starting when they were babies. In one Bible to a twin daughter, he wrote, “Make every minute count,” and cited his favorite Bible verses.
Visitation with the family will be Friday, October 28, 2016, from 5- 8 pm at Higgins Funeral Home.
