Diane Lawrence

Diane Burks Lawrence, 77, left this world on September 3, 2025. She passed peacefully at home with no prior warning of her passing. Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church on Monday September 8, 2025, with Rev. Dr. Vaughn Stafford officiating.

Visitation will start at 9:30 a.m. and the funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m.. The burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery, in Columbus, MS. Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

She was born July 27, 1948, in Columbus, MS to parents Earl Buren and Frances Miller Burks. She was the second of five children. She was married to the love of her life, Jim Lawrence, for 46 years, until his passing in 2015. They were parents to two sons, Andy Lawrence and Randy Lawrence. Diane graduated from Stephen D. Lee High School, Class of 1966, and enjoyed many class reunions with her classmates. She attended Mississippi State College for Women, now known as Mississippi University for Women, and graduated from Delta State University with a degree in accounting. She worked as an accountant all her life and was the owner of Lawrence Accounting and Tax for many years. She was a friend to all she met. She grew up in the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church where she made life long friends and started her spiritual journey. She was active in the First United Methodist Church all her adult life and recently was a teacher in her Sojourners Sunday School Class, served on the Church Council, was a member of Church Circle 6 of the Methodist Women, was a member of the choir, and a Prayer Pals member. She was also active in the American Legion’s women’s auxiliary group locally and on the state level, and she was a member of the Lowndes County Republican Women. She loved her family, and was always up for trips and get-togethers. She sent out a family text each Friday night to see who all was going out to eat and where we wanted to eat. She had recently made a trip to the Holy Lands in Israel with a group from her church, where she was re-baptized in the Jordan River. She felt really blessed to make that trip. She is already missed by her family and friends.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, his parents, Roy Richard and Jewell Wallena Lann Lawrence and one brother, Kerry Burks. She is survived by her sons, Randy (Shanda) Lawrence, their children, Elizabeth (David) Richardson, Jonathan Lawrence, Matt Lawrence, and Brit Bingham; and Andy (Brooke Ann) Lawrence, their children, Noah Lawrence, Emma Kate Lawrence, and Luke Lawrence. She is also survived by her brothers, Earl Buren (Maggie) Burks, Jr., their daughters and grandson, Cindy Burks, Vicky DeOrnellis, and Mason (Kiersten) DeOrnellis; Mike (Gwen) Burks, and their daughter and granddaughter, Lacy (Robert) Cooper, and Avie Lee Cooper; and her sister, Debbie Burks, and her brother-in-law, Richard (Dana) Lawrence of Little Rock, Arkansas. 

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Noah Lawrence, Luke Lawrence, Jonathan Lawrence, Matt Lawrence, and Brit Bingham, and nephews Mason DeOrnellis, and Robert Cooper. Honorary pallbearers will be her Prayer Pals, Patti Johnson, Jan Horton, Lee Tortorici, Judy Waller, Freida Burt, and Jane Crigler Currin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Legion. One of her last selfless acts is being an organ donor.