Diane was born to Mary and Jacob Durham on July 20, 1930 in Birmingham, AL and died on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at her home in Dahlonega. She was married to Robert Stephenson in 1954 and lived in Atlanta. She moved to Lumpkin County in the late 1980's, desiring to live in a more peaceful area.
After attending Stephens College, she earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Alabama with a major in Anthropology. Her early work years focused on research in health care delivery, carrying out federal contracts throughout the U.S. Spending a number of years in teaching and research at the University of Georgia, she led the women's rights movement on campus during the 60s. This led to early termination of her contract! Thereafter she began a life long career as a general contractor in home construction, the only woman in that profession in the Atlanta area at that time.
Diane helped start many human service organizations including the Atlanta Gay Center, Kidney Foundation of Georgia, NOA, Community Helping Place, and the Lumpkin Literacy Coalition. She was a founding member of the Georgia Mountains Unitarian Universalist Church in Dahlonega, having been a member of that church all of her adult life.
Survivors include her life partner of 16 years, Betty Greene; her children Fred Stephenson, Donna Stephenson and partner Bill Shepherd, and Randall Stephenson; her step-children Jennifer Greene, Chris and Amy Greene; and grandchildren Lindsey and Ella Greene; and her brother John Durham.
A Celebration of Life honoring Diane and her many friends will be held at the Dahlonega Funeral Home and a reception following at the Georgia UU Mountains Church, both in Dahlonega.
In lieu of flowers, Diane requests that donations be made in her name to the Georgia Unitarian Universalist Church in Dahlonega, GA
