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Diane Marie Gilliam, was born February 18, 1952 to the late Jasper E. Gilliam, Sr. and the late Janie Mae Highsmith Beach in Bethel, NC. She departed this life on Sunday, September 24, 2017 in Glen Allen, Virginia. Diane attended and graduated from Bethel Union High School, Bethel, NC. She later moved to New Haven, Connecticut where she worked for several years at the Henry Richardson Company before returning to Parmele, NC. She worked at June Day in Williamston, NC and later at Robersonville Products Company in Robersonville, NC until she had to resign due to health issues. Diane was very active at her church, Mt. Zion UHC, Bethel, NC, where she served as Financial Secretary, Trustee, Janitor, and Chairperson of the Kitchen Committee, was a member of the Gospel Choir, and headed the Annual Family and Friends Day. She faithfully followed her pastor to different speaking engagements and assisted with various other programs at her church. Diane wore several hats outside of the church as well. She was a professional cook and cooking instructor to whomever called upon her for assistance. She served as a cosmetologist, friend when you were in trouble, counselor and mentor, disciplinarian, and banker. You could always count on her to feed you, lend you a sympathetic ear or take comfort in knowing that she would exhaust all possible options to assist you in problem resolution. Parents and relatives knew that if they trusted her with their child that they didn’t have to worry because she wasn’t having any mess but would provide the child with the love and care needed. Diane, most of all was about love and family. She was the glue that held our family together through the good and the bad times. No matter who you were, family, stranger, or friend of the family; once she met you, that person would always be considered “part of the family”. She was often called “Aunt Diane” by many family friends. Anyone who ever came in contact with her loved her spirit, smile, and admired her for wanting the best for them no matter who they were or what mistakes you made in the past. Diane leaves to cherish her memories, daughter, Sharon D. Gilliam of the home; grandson, Tashan Gilliam of the home; four brothers, Jasper E. Gilliam, Jr. (Pat) of Hamden, CT, Chauncey R. Gilliam, of the home, Walter L. Gilliam (Ella) of Bowie, MD, Glenn Gilliam (Vanessa) of Gaithersburg, MD; nieces, Vickie Peele of Bethel, NC, Sonya Gilliam of Hamden, CT, Kristen Gilliam of Newport News, VA, Autumn Gilliam of Atlanta, GA, Nicole Parker of Greenville, NC, Darlene Huskey (Michael) of New Haven, CT; nephews, Cortland Gilliam of Chapel Hill, NC, Austin Gilliam of Norfolk, VA; as well as many great-nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

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Ms. Diane Marie Gilliam

February 18, 1952 - September 24, 2017