LANHAM, Patricia Diane

Ms. Patricia Diane Lanham, age 73, of Rome, passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2023, at Floyd Hospital with family members at bedside.

Diane was born in Rome, Georgia, August 14, 1949, daughter of the late Johnnie Mae Dillard Lanham and Ovell Maxwell Lanham. Ms. Lanham was also preceded in death by her niece, Danielle Freeman Jordan; fiancé; Gene Culberson; grandparents, John Dillard and Cora Bagley Dillard and Cleveland and Lois Lanham; and beloved dog, Charlie.

Survivors include her sister, Wanda Lanham Freeman of Rome, great-niece, Caroline Grace Freeman of Rome and great-nephew, Benjamin Maxwell Jordan of Lavonia, GA.

Diane’s passion has always been educating the minds of our youth. She was a Model High School Graduate Class of 1967. In 1971, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics from Berry College. In 1979, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master’s in Education from the University of Georgia. Diane spent her entire teaching career at Cedartown High School from 1971 through 2004. She taught Home Economics now known as Family and Consumer Science. She was honored as Polk School District Teacher of The Year in 1988 and 2000, Cedartown High School Teacher of the Year 3 times, and second runner up as Georgia’s Economic Teacher of the Year.

She served as current President and past membership chairman of the Floyd Rome Retired Educators Association. She was a volunteer at Floyd Atrium Health and the smiling face at the front desk of the 330 physicians and surgery building for many years. Diane loved spending time with her sister, niece and nephew, cooking, trying new restaurants, sewing, and reading. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, April 2, 2023, at 1:00PM from the chapel of Barton Funeral Home, with Rev. Jim Pinkard officiating. Interment will follow in Eastview Cemetery, Adairsville. Pallbearers will be Terry Pelfrey, Kerry Caldwell, Chris Lionetti, Joel Dutton, Harry Harwell, Todd Holbert, Matthew Pinson, David Freeman and Brandon Freeman. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Floyd Rome Retired Educators Association.

The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 4:00PM until 7:00PM at Barton Funeral Home.

Please sign the guestbook and leave online condolences at www. BartonFuneralHome.net