Diane Shock Rivers

RIVERS, DIANE SHOCK, age 61, a loving wife, devoted parent, grandmother, and sister went home to Heaven on February 5, 2010. She passed away peacefully at her home in the Birmingham, Alabama community of Shoal Creek.

Diane was born November 22, 1948 to Edward Lee and Lorene Fleming Shock in Conway, Arkansas. She graduated from Conway High School in 1966; earned two degrees in Special Education at the University of Central Arkansas, B.S.E. 1971 and M.S.E. 1972; and later completed her Ed.D. in Special Education at the University of Arkansas in 1986.

Diane was an avid reader, an accomplished pianist, enjoyed painting and playing tennis, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Professionally, Diane taught at the elementary, secondary, and higher education levels. She was the first U.S. educator to mainstream a deaf student. She became an administrator at an early age and served at all levels, including regional superintendent. In 1994, Birmingham’s Wilkerson Middle School won the prestigious USA Today Quality Cup Award under her leadership.

In 1996, Diane founded Quality Educational Systems, Inc. to help underperforming public schools improve student achievement. Throughout the continental United States and Alaska, she utilized cutting edge educational practices and technology coupled with Christian principles, including prayer, to transform schools. Many of her schools won Baldridge quality awards.

Diane was a founding member of Women Impacting Public Policy, and was a delegate to the 1986 National Republican Women’s Convention. She served as a National Malcolm Baldridge examiner, a state level Baldridge examiner in Alabama and Michigan, a Covey Trainer, and authored several educational books, among other achievements. Most recently, she was appointed to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Systems from 2005-2009 by President George W. Bush.

Though her professional life was inspiring, it paled in comparison to the time, effort, and importance she placed on her relationship with God and her family. She walked with Jesus for 52 years and shared His grace with those who knew her. Diane was a giver in every form of the word. She gave generously to strangers, charities, her family, and friends. She was a member of Double Oak Community Church in the Mt. Laurel community of Birmingham, and in the last two years of her life she developed a Bible study course entitled Heart Talk for the women’s ministry.

Words are inadequate to describe Diane's devotion to family, but she lived out the description of the virtuous woman, every last word of it, described in Proverbs 31:10-31. We will miss her every day until we see her again in glory.

Diane is survived by her husband, Douglas Bernard Rivers; son, Jonathan Scott Mansfield (Kye); daughter, Amy Mansfield Parkman (Jason); five grandchildren, Lucy Livingston Mansfield, Cade McCollum Mansfield, Stella Rivers Parkman, Margaret Fendley Parkman, and Zoe Alexander Parkman; a brother, Thomas Fleming Shock; and a number of cousins, nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward Lee and Lorene Fleming Shock, and a brother, Don Edward Shock.

The visitation and service were Monday, February 8, 2010 at Double Oak Community Church. A private burial service was at Southern Heritage Cemetery in Pelham, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Double Oak Community Church for Double Oak Community School, 115 Olmsted Street, Birmingham, AL 35242, or to CaringBridge at www.caringbridge.org.