Diane Willhite

Diane Willhite,78, went home to her eternal resting place on Friday, July 3rd, 2020. She was born March 23, 1942 in Greenwood, MS to the late James Lorency Willhite and Cora Jane Thompson Willhite. She was the 11th child of 13 children.

Diane grew up picking cotton in the fields of Mississippi. As a young teenager, her parents moved the family to Jacksonville, Florida where she graduated from Andrew Jackson High School. She later married and became the first female truck driver. There were many stories of how she would get taken off her semi and sent back home due to the fact that no woman was supposed to be driving a semi. She later became a single mom to raise her children alone, making her have a strong backbone in life. She attended college at Florida State College of Jacksonville. She retired from being a driver at Avis Rental to help take care of her grandchildren. Family and friends were what she cherished the most; if you were in need, she made it happen one way or the other. She was the kind of person that no one was a stranger to her; she would take you in, feed you, clothe you and put a roof over your head. Diane loved to crochet and made afghans and other beautiful creations for her family and friends. She was blessed with the gift of hospitality and all the family get togethers were always at her home. She was an excellent cook and loved fixing everyone’s favorites. She always looked forward to “Game Day” with her nieces because she loved to play cards and board games and laugh and act crazy. Everyone that were friends to her daughter called her Mom; those of her grandchildren would call her Grandma, and extended friends would call her Aunt Diane. She loved her two grandchildren and great grandchildren with all her heart; they were the apple of her eye.

She is preceded in death by her 3 sons, Joseph Allen Dixon, Norman Christopher Dixon and Troy William Dixon as well as one grandchild Cora Lilliosa Diane Pape. Diane is survived by her daughter, Wanda Bates and her husband Garry Bates; her sister, Joyce Hendrick; brother George Willhite; 2 grandchildren: Bobby Edward Willhite and his wife Amanda Willhite; and Harley Willhite; three great-grandchildren: Tristan Willhite, Oliver Willhite and Felix Willhite; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and extended family and friends.

Funeral services will be held 12:00 Noon Friday. July 10, 2020 in the Chapel of Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd., Jacksonville, Fl 32211. Interment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive family and friends from 11:00 am Friday until the start of the services at the funeral home.