Diane Davis Browning

Diane Davis Browning, 72, passed away April 10, 2023, at Ascension Providence Health Center. Services will be Saturday, April 15, at 3:30 p.m., at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Visitation will be Friday, April 14 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey.

Diane was born in Dora, Alabama, the only child of Thomas and Justine Gray Davis. She married Larry Browning in 1968 and they, with their son, Billy Jack, began a life built around completing college degrees, working interesting jobs, building friendships, and traveling. She moved to Waco with her family in 1977. Diane was a lifelong educator with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Alabama. She was very proud of the Doctor of Education that she earned at Baylor University in 1985.

Having served as an elementary teacher in Jefferson County, Alabama, her career in Waco included several roles. She served as the Migrant Program Coordinator for Region X11 Education service center for ten years and then began a series of roles as an education consultant, including serving as the Southwest Regional Consultant for the Riverside Publishing company, consultant for Powell Associates, and consultant for several school districts.

In Waco ISD, she was the Coordinator of Testing, Research, Evaluation and At-Risk programs (1988-1990) and the Instructional Facilitator at South Waco Elementary School (2002 – 2004).

At the Baylor University School of Education, Diane was the Coordinator of the Center for Adult Learning and the Texas Family Literacy Center from 1993 to 1998. In the department of curriculum and instruction, she served as an adjunct instructor and field supervisor for the Strickland Scholars Program until retirement in 2016.

In the Waco Community, she was very proud of her work with the A Storybook Christmas project which has provided more than 500,000 new books for children since 1991. Diane was a founding board member and worked as the school district contact throughout the life of the program.

She enjoyed her friendships in Waco. Especially spending time with her “Waco Sisters,” Barbara Brunson and Robbie Moore. She was also very lucky in moving in next door to our Waco Family by Choice, the Moores: Gary, Maryjon, Amy, and Carrie.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Justine Davis, of Dora, Alabama.

She is survived by her husband, Larry; and her son, William Jack (Bill) Browning, of Austin. Her Davis family in Alabama was very special to her and she is survived by an aunt, Virginia Davis; cousins, Lori Wallace, Kelly Ferris, Katie Bright, Joy Reeves, and Sharon Alexander; and cousin, Mason Davis Roush-Wallace.

She cherished her role as grandmother by choice (Queenie) of Adam and Andrew Timotic.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.