Diana Nicola Farris

Published 12:15 am Sunday, May 10, 2015

Diana Nicola Farris died May 5, 2015. She was 88 years old.

She was born in Vicksburg Nov. 21, 1926, the oldest daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Wadie and Latifie Nicola.

Diana was a lifelong and devoted member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of Vicksburg.

Diana grew up as a first generation American during the Great Depression. She understood and appreciated the importance of both family and hard work from a very young age. She met Rudolph Johnnie Farris and they were married on November 27, 1949. Johnnie and Diana raised three children and were married for 26 years until his death in 1975.

She worked at Karl’s Ladies Boutique and Frederick’s Boutique, where she had a wonderful knack for dressing women in beautiful clothes for just the right occasion. She also loved preparing for the annual Lebanese Dinner at her church and correcting her children and grandchildren when needed. Above all else, she enjoyed spending time with her family.

Diana’s house was usually full of people and personalities, hers often the biggest, and that was as she wanted it. She was the matriarch of her family in the truest sense of the word, and she will be missed beyond measure.

Diana is survived by three children, John Wade “Bo” Farris (Libby) of Madison; Donna Farris Hardy (Rick) of Vicksburg and Becky Farris Collins (Rick) of Arlington, Texas; five grandchildren, Heather Farris Bennett (Russell), Catherine Farris Peterson (Brandon), Brian Patrick Richardson, Nikki Collins and John David Richardson; four great-grandchildren, Caroline Farris Bennett, Anna Catherine Bennett, Henry Russell Bennett and Jude Farris Peterson.

She is also survived by her three sisters, Yvonne Nicola, Joy Nicola Logue, both of Vicksburg, and Sandra Nicola Evans (Alan) of Clinton.

Services will 11 a.m. Monday, May 11, 2015, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church with the Very Rev. Father John Morris, Pastor, officiating.

Diana’s family will receive family and friends for visitation at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the church until the service.

Interment will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Riles Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2709 Washington Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180, and to Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216.

Pallbearers will be George Jabour, Jr., Stephen Haik, Dobie Nosser, Jimmy Angelo, Robert Angelo and James Lowe. Honorary Pallbearers will be Leo Boolos, David Boolos, Todd Purser and the Men and Women of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church.