She was born March 24, 1949, in Sylacauga, Ala., and was the daughter of the late Joyce Skinner Murphree and Verbon Earl Murphree.
She graduated from Athens State University in Alabama and worked for 16 years as a victim/witness advocate in the District Attorney General’s office here in Cleveland.
She helped countless people recover from the trauma of being victimized by crime.
In 2006, she enrolled at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary to earn a master’s degree in counseling, which was awarded to her at home by unanimous consent and with highest commendations of the Seminary’s board of directors.
The board of directors all agreed she was the ideal example of the kind of student the Seminary desires to attract.
She was a member of the Westmore Church of God.
Survivors include her husband, Joe Hodo of Cleveland, whom she married on Oct. 17, 1970, in Cullman, Ala.; daughters: Rachel “Shelley” Hodo of Birmingham, Ala.. and Jennifer Lawrence and her husband, Andrew, whom Dianne loved dearly; and sister, the Rev. Sandra Murphree of Frankfort, Ky.
The celebration of her life will be conducted on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. at the Westmore Church of God with Dr. Doug Slocumb, Dr. Jackie Johns, Dr. Cheryl Johns and the Revs. Wendell Smith, Kelvin Page and James Francis officiating.
Graveside service and interment will be conducted Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010, at the Livingston Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Crane Hill, Ala.
The family requests memorials be made to the Pentecostal Theological Seminary Scholarship Fund, Office of Institutional Advancement, 900 Walker Street N.E., Cleveland, TN 37311.
The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Westmore Church of God.
North Ocoee Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes has charge of the arrangements.
The memorial book may be viewed and signed at www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com
