Dianne Cothren Burris

Dianne Cothren Burris 1946 - 2025 Dianne Cothren Burris, 78, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 21, 2025, at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, surrounded by family. Born on May 30, 1946, in Liberty, Dianne was the beloved daughter of Ruthie C. Wroten and Lovell Wroten Jr. She married her high school sweetheart, Terry Lane Burris, in June 1963, and together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and service. Their love story spanned more than six decades and included adventures across the country and around the world. Dianne was the heart of her home-gracious, giving, and endlessly devoted. Whether running an in-home daycare in Jackson, TN, serving as Assistant Director at a center in McAllen, TX, or raising her children with patience and grace through countless moves and milestones, she had a remarkable gift for caring. Her home was always open, her table always full, and her heart always ready. She was a lifelong member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, where she first joined the Girls’ Auxiliary and was crowned a GA Queen in 1960. Her Baptist faith was the foundation of her life and the source of her incredible strength. She sang in the choir, taught children’s songs at Vacation Bible School, and found ways to serve at every stage of life. Her later years were marked by resilience after a stroke in 2000, and even after losing her ability to speak, she continued to radiate warmth through her smile and presence. She is survived by her 3 children: Tony (Sandy) Burris, Sheila (Matt) Guajardo, and Lane (Amanda) Burris; grandchildren: Katlyn Guajardo, Nicole (Will) Smith, Olivia (Jose) Ortiz, Amanda (Charley) Pagan, Derek (Alexa) Burris, Lane (Lindy) Burris, and Collin (Emily) Burris; and great-grandchildren: Levin Pagan, Theo Pagan, Sawyer Smith, and baby Oliver Smith, due soon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Terry, in 2023, as well as her parents. A viewing was held on April 25, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Smithdale, from 5:30 to 6:30PM, immediately followed by the funeral service and burial. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Dianne’s legacy lives on in every child she nurtured, every song she sang, and every life she touched.