Diane Evans

Surrounded by her family’s love, Diane Evans returned to her Creator on September 2, 2024, in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 88. Diane lived fully and joyfully. She shared 56 years of marriage with her beloved DeeWitt, raised three children and proudly watched them raise their own.

Diane enjoyed a music career that spanned almost 50 years. She shared her gift with innumerable others and brought spiritual depth and purpose to every performance. Diane taught piano to hundreds of students, and she was a professional organist. In addition to serving as a full-time organist at Bartlett Methodist she was a substitute organist for many churches and played at countless weddings. As a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers and the American Guild of Organists, Diane continued teaching after a stroke in 2007 by adapting to one-handed piano compositions and performing 15-finger duets with Anita Myers and, later, John Palmer.

In addition to her music, Diane expressed herself with culinary expertise as well. To her, food was a love language and yet another way to express her deep love for the people in her life. She infused her loved ones' lives with the priorities of faith, family, and strong friendships.

Throughout her life, Diane held her Christian faith close and, in turn, wrapped her community in care with a servant heart. She actively volunteered at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital and the Memphis Symphony Auxiliary.

Born in Brownsville, Tennessee, Diane learned tenacity and resilience from her parents, Henry and Nell Dupree. She began piano lessons at age 6 and performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue from memory at her senior recital. After studying music at Rhodes and Vanderbilt, she reconnected with DeeWitt, also from Brownsville, whom she later married. Following his Navy career, they returned to Memphis to be near family and their cherished farm in Brownsville.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Spence, her husband DeeWitt Evans, and grandson Spence William Evans. She is survived by her children, D. Currie Evans, IV (Irene) and their children and spouses DeeWitt, Eilise Carabajal (Brad) and Cathleen Villegas (Zach); Heather Gilker(Chris), and their children, Grace, Spence, and Grant; and Malise Culpepper (Byron), and their children, Caroline, Merrill, and Evans.

The family would also like to thank Diane’s faithful caregivers - Nadia Garchi, Evelyn McCalleum, Timitrial Pettis, and the staff at Story Point. And in her last weeks Rhonda Adams and Teresa Schuman.

Her service will be held at 11:00 AM on September 6, 2024, at the Christ Methodist Church Wilson Chapel in Memphis, TN with visitation at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Sanctuary Choir Fund at Christ Methodist Church.