Margaret Diane Fant Edkins

Margaret Diane Fant Edkins 

June 12, 1947 – September 7, 2024

Diane Edkins passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2024, after a long illness. She was 77. A native of Jones County, Mississippi, Diane grew-up in Robertsdale, Alabama, and was a long-time resident of Daphne, Alabama.

Diane was a 1965 graduate of Robertsdale High School; a 1969 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi; and a 1984 graduate of The University of South Alabama. A life-long educator, Diane taught in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and Charleston, South Carolina, before returning to Baldwin County where she taught Fourth Grade at Spanish Fort Elementary School for 15 years. She devoted a decade as union representative for the Baldwin County Education Association before returning to the Mobile County School System to teach middle school.

Before retiring from more than 30 years in education, Diane became a Certified Pharmacy Technician and worked for Wal-Mart for more than a decade. It was during this time she became a nanny for several families along the Eastern Shore. Although she enjoyed her tenure as an educator, Diane always said that being a nanny was her most special career.

Diane enjoyed traveling and treasured her friends she thought of as family. She was known for her marathon phone calls and letters that spanned countless pages when physical travel became more difficult. She also enjoyed gardening, reading, needle crafts, and crocheting.

A member of Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) for more than 45 years, Diane served as Elder; sang in Chancel Choir; and faithfully worked with the Flower Guild. In her younger days, she taught Vacation Bible School; rang in the Handbell Choir; served on the Worship/Nurture Team; and was selected as a Commissioner to the Presbytery of South Alabama a number of times.

Diane is preceded in death by her grandparents, John Luther (Jake) & Irene Johnson Fant and Owen William & Dovie Holliman Lawson, all of Ellisville, MS, and her parents, James Herman Fant and Betty Lawson Fant McLendon. She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Edkins-McAnally (Adam) and granddaughters Emily McAnally and Jillian McAnally, all of Frisco, TX; her brother, Stanley Fant (Debbie) of Fairhope, AL; her sister, Susan Fant, of Daphne; nephews Allen Fant of Millbrook, AL, and Joseph Fant of Fairhope, AL; niece Dr. Perrin Fant Windham (Brandon) of Daphne, AL; her aunt, Helen Hill Lawson of Ellisville, MS; and uncle, Charles Moseley of Hurley, MS; as well countless cousins and friends across the country.

A Celebration of Life is planned for a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church Music Memorial Fund.

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