Frances Arlene Diamond

Frances Arlene Diamond was born March 30, 1930. She was the baby with two older brothers to the late Lucian and Kate Reed of Mendenhall, MS. She passed away peacefully on January 3, 2020 in the home of her daughter, Laura Lewis. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Thomas E. Diamond of Theodore, AL. Arlene is survived by her adored children Barry (Sally) Smith, Laura (C.J.) Lewis, Barbara (William) Massingill, Donna (Tom Welch) Smith. She was considered a second Mom to Kathy Glasgow (McKissack), Mickey McKissack, and Kathy LaCaze (Weems). There are many more who she loved as her own. She is survived by grandchildren: Kristin Smith; Kandice (Mark) Rowe; Erin (Preston) Lewis; Bonnie Massingill; Katie Massingill; Daniel Massingill; Savannah (Matt) Shirley; Eric (Chelsea) Smith. She is also survived by great-grandchildren: Trace, Leo Haddon, and Piper Rowe; Kruze Smith; Harlynn and Haddon Shirley; Avery, Molly, (one more on the way) Smith; Michelle Hopkins, and Greggory Stanton Jr. Arlene was a devoted and loving Mother to her four children who she raised alongside her late first husband, James Haddon Smith of Jackson, MS. She was an influence in their lives and in the lives of her grandchildren. She also worked faithfully as secretary to James Bell of the MS Highway Patrol in 1974. Once she moved to Theodore, AL, she became an inspiring art teacher of oil paintings. If you’ve ever seen or owned one of her paintings, they consisted mainly of her beloved ocean and beach settings. The way she would paint a crashing wave, a clipper ship, or a sailor and his lighthouse, would make you feel as though you could smell the salt water and hear the crashing waves on the shore. The ocean is where she felt the most at peace, and she was always “happy as she could be when she was going to the sea.” It showed in every brushstroke of her artwork. She faced many challenges in her 89 years, but she faced it all with bravery, and a can-do attitude pulling her family through the trials and joys of life that set us all on our paths to becoming who we are today. Arlene’s life was filled with great love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, true joy, victory, love, laughter, creativity, and so much more. She lived her life with both mistakes, successes, and she candidly shared it all with each of us to help us through our own experiences. She was also known for her skills in the kitchen with her infamous homemade vegetable soup, gumbo, and butter bars, to name a few. These meals usually followed one of her famous shopping trips or a day at the beach. She lived her life to the fullest, and when she looks down on us now as we struggle to handle the grief, she would give us a hug, something to eat, and would tell us to always remember the good times. She would also reach for her daughter, Laura’s hand, who was her caregiver for the last 10 years, and tell her, “You did good, baby girl, you did so very good.” Arlene’s personal prayer was always, “I do not pray for God to see my point of view; I pray that I will respond with grace and understanding to God’s point of view.” Proverbs 31:28 would describe her perfectly, “Her children rise up, and call her blessed.” A private family ceremony will be held at Serenity Gardens in Theodore, AL on Sunday, January 5th where she will be laid to rest beside her precious Tommy Diamond. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to St. Jude’s Children Hospital or locally to the Mississippi School for the Blind. Both organizations held a special place in Arlene’s heart.

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Frances Arlene Diamond

March 30, 1930 - January 3, 2020