Diane Angba was born on August 21, 1956 to Stanley and Dolly Douglass in the Bronx, New York. Diane and her siblings, Deborah, Darryl, Renee, John and Victoria were raised by their mother in a home filled with faith and love. Her Grandmother, Irene Taylor, and two Aunts, Mary Frances Boyce and Martha Elizabeth Willis-Green, who preceded her in death, were very instrumental in making the family unit close. Holidays were spent together with love, laughter and great food in a Christian atmosphere.

Diane accepted Christ into her life at an early age and became passionate about the work of the Lord. She and the family attended Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church in Harlem, New York, where she sang and directed the choir. She continued with her ministry of music after the church relocated to Emmanuel Pentecostal Faith Church in the Bronx, New York, under the leadership of Bishop Betty Middleton. She also directed the Edenwald Community Choir, with her brother, Darryl, an outstanding instrumentalist, where they travelled throughout the New York Metropolitan Area singing and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Diane was multi-talented; not only did she sing, she also played the drums and piano.

Diane attended New York City public schools. She went on to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Mathematics, from Lehman College, New York. Having embarked on a teaching career in New York City Public Schools, Diane impacted the lives of many young students. To her students, she was their role model because she spoke their language, valued their potential and developed great relationships. They always remarked on how “cool” she was - wearing the latest sneakers and gear that they loved. Everyone who encountered Diane knew she had an exceptional sense of fashion, flair, finesse and style. She could be “casual cool” one day and super sophisticated the next. She knew how to work it.

Having recognized her positive influence and impact on the lives of young students, she wanted to do more. She continued her education and obtained a Master’s degree in Counseling. This knowledge base equipped her to better recognize, tap, and empower the potential in individual students. She went above and beyond and worked with influential officials to obtain grants that allowed her to take students from the Bronx to Broadway shows and art galleries in Manhattan repeatedly. She used her counselling gifts to encourage students to think positively and succeed academically in New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Virginia.
Diane had many other hidden talents such as the ability to repair things in the house or assemble furniture or equipment. She loved to shop and had superior negotiating skills allowing her to land the best deal on any item she bought. She was an avid roller skater and enjoyed skating with her family and friends in younger years.

Diane had a strong passion for the performing arts. She was not only a patron, but also wrote powerful plays performed by young people in schools and Church communities. She loved watching old movie classics, including esoteric titles by Woody Allen. To support her love of the arts, Diane and Augustine have attended the Jazz Fest in New Orleans every year since Hurricane Katrina. In addition, she enjoyed travelling internationally and was fascinated by other cultures. After one of several overseas trip to Africa, she connected with a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Fairfax, Virginia and started sending books and clothing to those countries through the NGO.

Diane was an avid sports fan with a highly competitive spirit. She was a ‘die hard’ fan of the New York Giants and also loved the game of soccer. Her competitive spirit was evident when playing an array of board games, especially the game of chess, backgammon, and monopoly.

Diane used the internet to inspire and uplift others with an encouraging word daily. Diane had a zest for life, fun-loving, witty and outspoken. She had a probing sense of humor, and like her grandmother, could make jokes like nobody else. She was genuine to the core without an ounce of pretense. People respected her opinion because she could be critical without malice or envy. She had no problem addressing issues, good, bad or ugly, was creative in finding solutions and willing to work toward resolutions. She enjoyed cooking and regularly hosted BBQ parties for her family and friends.

Diane loved and was fiercely protective of her family. She doted on her children and thought the world of her husband, Augustine Angba.

On Friday morning, December 15, 2017, Diane departed this life after a brief period of illness. Diane is survived by her husband, Augustine Angba; son, Tuji Angba; daughter, Tahlya Angba. She leaves to mourn mother Dolly Douglass; three sisters, Deborah Riley, Renee Stone, and Victoria Douglass; one brother, John Douglass, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by a brother, Darryl Douglass.

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