Heaven gained an angel in Dianne Dillard Moss, 60, when she ascended into the Lord’s loving arms Wednesday, June 21, 2023, from Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville following a sudden illness.
A celebration of life service is planned for noon Saturday, June 24, at First Baptist Church Cornelia (FBCC), located at 325 Oak St., Cornelia. Visitation is slated for 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 23, at Hillside Memorial Chapel and Gardens of Clarkesville, located at 5495 Highway 197 South, Clarkesville.
Born Sept. 2, 1962, in Hall County, Dianne – lovingly known as “DD” – was the youngest of four children born to the late William Cecil “Bill” and Faye Elrod Dillard of Cornelia.
Mrs. Moss touched the lives of thousands during her 27-plus years with the Habersham County Parks & Recreation Department. In her most recent role as Parks & Rec athletic director, Dianne devoted her mind, heart and soul to the aspiring athletes of Habersham County. Aside from her family, DD’s life revolved around games played on the court and field, which she helped direct from the Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Center in Clarkesville. The community’s naming of the Diamond Memorial Park batting cages after Dianne speaks volumes about her passion for the game and those playing it.
Prior to her career with Habersham County Government, you may have experienced Dianne’s warm and friendly demeanor during her decade-plus as a bank teller-turned-accounting representative for the Cornelia branch of Community Bank & Trust. Mrs. Moss was a caring and devoted employee who always took pride in her work.
Though it goes without saying, DD was an avid and lifelong University of Georgia (UGA) Bulldog fan, evidenced by the many signs, knickknacks, and figurines adorning the walls and mantel of her home. Dianne was often seen dressed in her favorite UGA T-shirt. When she took a breath from cheering on the Dawgs, DD turned her focus toward supporting the Atlanta Braves and the University of North Carolina Tarheel basketball team.
Dianne was a 1981 graduate of Habersham Central High School in Mt. Airy, where she was a star basketball and softball player for the Lady Raiders. In college, she played basketball for Gainesville Junior College (now the University of North Georgia – Gainesville). DD’s athletic career extended well into her adult years on Habersham County baseball fields, where she and her teammates won countless softball games, kicking tails and taking names in the process.
At 20 years old, on July 2, 1983, Dianne married the love of her life, her best friend and the father of her children, Ralph Miles Moss Sr., at FBCC, where she was a faithful member. Together, they had Ralph Miles Moss Jr., 37, in 1985, a yield/processing improvement manager at Fieldale Farms, and Tyler Dillard Moss, 32, in 1990, an officer at the Demorest Police Department. DD’s life orbited around her family, to which she selflessly gave anything and everything she had, and as often as possible.
Dianne’s other passions included being the life of the many parties she and Ralph Sr. threw for friends, teammates, and loved ones; supporting her sons in their athletic careers, which often required driving to and from away games out of county/state; trips to Panama City Beach, Florida, where the extended family enjoyed many summer vacations together; sweet treats, including cheesecake dip made by her daughter-in-law, Rhonda Moss, and chocolate chip orange scones baked by her future daughter-in-law, Christina Santee. Most of all, and most important to DD, she enjoyed spending time with family.
In addition to her parents, Dianne was preceded in death by grandparents Henry and Ollie Elrod, Cecil and Grace Dillard; niece, Jacqueline B. “Jacque” Dillard; and brother-in-law, Wesley Avery “Wes” Dodd Jr.
Survivors include her devoted and loving husband of 40 years, Ralph Miles Moss Sr. of Cornelia; sons and daughters-in-law, Miles and Rhonda Moss of Cleveland, Tyler Moss and Christina Santee of Cornelia; grandchildren, Lexie Milee Moss and Miles Declan Moss of Cornelia; sisters and brothers-in-law, Kerri Dillard Dodd of Cornelia, Lynn Dillard and Michael Elliot “Mickey” Hilliard of Banks County; brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Shirley Dillard of Baldwin; sister-in-law, Blanch Beasley of Cornelia; mother-in-law, Naomi Moss Parris of Cornelia; nieces and nephews, Chip Dillard, Jay Dillard (Andrea), Millie Hilliard Sheffield (Alex), Meredith Hilliard Rudeseal (Andrew), Bill Rogers (Amy), Bradley Rogers (Claudia), Avery Dodd III (Lauren) and Diana Richards (Dillon); and her beloved fur baby, Chip, her dapple dachshund. Dianne’s spirit, without a doubt, also continues to live on within the hearts of the many children and their parents who participated in Habersham County rec sports.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made toward upkeep/upgrades of the Diamond Memorial Park batting cages in Clarkesville. Hillside Memorial Chapel and Gardens is collecting and distributing these donations on behalf of the family.
An online guest book is available for the Moss family at www.hillsidememorialchapel.com.
Arrangements are in the care and professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville. 706-754-6256
