Elder Diane Smart Anthony was born in Crawford, Mississippi (Lowndes County) to Ella Lue Taylor Smart and John Louis Smart, Sr.

Diane confessed Christ at an early age.  She was baptized and joined Fairview Baptist Church where she remained a faithful member.  She was a 1982 graduate of Motley High School.  After graduating high school, she attended Mary Holmes Junior College in West Point, Mississippi where she met and later married Eulise Barney, Sr.  To this union, three amazing sons were born.  They resided in Chicago, Illinois where she attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church and sang in the choir.  She later moved to Kokomo, Indiana for a few years before returning to her home in Crawford.

Upon returning, she reunited with her home church where she was a faithful and devoted member, teacher, Head of the Dance Ministry, Greeter and Ordained Elder.  Diane was very passionate about her ministries and truly loved the Lord.  Not only did she enjoy teaching the Word of God, but seeing it expressed by others.  She also expressed God's love by caring for the sick and the less fortunate.

Diane also attended Mississippi University for Women in pursuit of a degree in Nursing. For the past twenty-four years, Diane worked at Fresenius Kidney Care as a Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician.  She loved her work and truly cared about her patients.  She often expressed gratitude and appreciation for the wonderful working relationships she shared with the staff on her job and how they assisted when she could not be there.

March 20, 2011, Diane married Jack C. Anthony and they loved and cared for each other until his passing on January 4, 2020.  Jack often spoke of how he had been in love with Diane since they were kids. He kept her laughing, and they loved traveling.  She loved life and was a happy person…always greeting everyone with a big smile even when her heart may have been burdened and heavy. She was the glue that bonded her family.  She was sure to pull the family together for special occasions such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother's & Father's Day, birthdays, and so on.

In addition to her father, she is preceded in death by her brothers:  Johnny Will Taylor, John Louis Smart, Jr., Melvin Smart, Tommie James Verdell, Bernard Fields, Marcell Fields.

In addition to her mother, she leaves to cherish her memories her sons:  Travion (Cloressa) Barney, Eulise (Barbara) Barney, Jr., and John Anderson Barney; adopted daughter, Kelly James; siblings: Elizabeth (James) Terry, Jeannette (Louis) Coleman, Dennis (Levearn) Smart, Howard (Gloria) Smart, David Smart, Daniel Smart, Bobby Smart, Willie George (Dorothy) Fields, Jimmy (Annette) Sherrod, Carlton (Carolyn) Fields, Jimmy (Laura) Fields, Alexander (Keysha) Fields, Eunice (Barron) Morris, Shirley (Tim) Staten, Beverly Joann (Anthony) Carter, Patricia (Arthur) Love, Gracie (TY) O'Neal, Earnest (Willie Rose) Porter, Mariah Jean (John L) Phinizee, Edward (Twanna) Fields, Charles Little Smart and Theotis Porter; a brother adopted in love, Earnest Brown; grandchildren:  Earnestine Camille Barney, Eulise Barney, III, Micah Barney; aunts, Della Flimmons, Annie Pearl Harris and Christine Beckum.  She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.