Diana Alecia Laing

It was a beautiful and blessed Sunday on October 6, 1957 when a gregarious and happy baby girl was born to the late Alexander Laing and the late Ivy Henry in Kingston, Jamaica. She was lovingly named Diana Alecia Laing, affectionately called Peaches.

Diana was raised in a loving home bolstered by Christian & West Indian principles. She later enjoyed spending time with her younger siblings, Jasmin and Danny, with whom she was very close.

Diana spent all her childhood years in Kingston where she attended Jones Town Primary School, from where she won a scholarship to attend Wolmers High School for Girls in 1969. She excelled in High School both academically and socially. She was consistently ranked in the top percentage of her class. She excelled in English and other languages like German, French and Latin and many of her friends became practice targets for her mastering her languages skills. She also formed many lasting friendships at Wolmers, many of which have been maintained over the years. She enjoyed her high school years. She enjoyed learning and studying. She was born with great scholastic abilities

Diana’s early years were not without loss and grief however as she lost her father and brother at a very tender age and about 2 weeks before taking her GCE O Level exams at 16 years old she lost her dear mother Ivy. Diana was determined to forge ahead despite these losses, especially that of her mother, realizing that pursuing her education was the best way she could honor her. With resolve she sat her English exam the day after her mother’s funeral and she ended up receiving a distinction, which was the highest passing grade.

Diana’s desire was to matriculate to Sixth form to pursue A level studies, but with her mother’s passing, she realized that her priority was now her younger siblings, Jasmin and Danny. Her Step-father Sydney Coke, who became a father to her, was very supportive of her in whatever decisions she made.

She was offered a job at Bank of Jamaica after High School and she took advantage of every opportunity there to excel. She developed many life-long friendships there. Despite having a steady job, she never forgot her passion to become an Educator so when the opportunity arose, she attended St Joseph’s Teachers College, where she again excelled and was successful in achieving her Teachers certification.

Diana migrated to the United States in the mid 1980s in pursuit of better opportunities. She worked very hard to support herself in whatever capacity she could. She worked even harder to accomplish her goals after the birth of her first pride and joy, her son Jayce. Diana knew she had to be a role model for Jayce, so she worked tirelessly to support her dreams and goals and also to support her only child at the time.

Diana continued to pursue her educational goals by attending Georgia State University (BSW) and Clark Atlanta University (MSW). She accomplished her educational goals with lots of grit, God-given intellectual abilities and the support of family and many friends who were like family.

Diana was later blessed with her second pride and joy, her daughter Alecia. Her 2 children were her world and she spoke of them with much pride, joy and love and she continuously supported them vigorously especially with their academic pursuits.

Diana pursued many career paths within the social work profession to include an extensive career in dialysis based care and psychiatric crisis stabilization. Diana would later follow her dreams of opening her own business, a private practice by the name of “Family Issues and Solutions”, where she specialized in individual and family psychotherapeutic services.

She always tried to find the joy working at her various jobs and her focus was always making her patients' experiences better.

Diana was the very essence of compassion, empathy, and duty. She knew she had the God-given gift of being able to connect with people. She found a way to connect with some of the most challenging clients and situations and frequently facilitated positive outcomes when the situation seemed dire.

Diana did not always get so absorbed in work that she did not make time to travel and enjoy herself and have fun with her friends. She traveled extensively whether by land, sea or air many times with dear friends whose company she thoroughly enjoyed. One could hear the joy and fulfillment in her voice when she talked about her various travel adventures.

Her dream was to get hired at the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Atlanta. When this became a reality, she was elated. She looked forward to working there until her retirement. She was on track to do just that.Unfortunately, her health challenges became more acute over the past 2-3 years, but she faced these challenges head-on with confidence and the support of her children, her 2 siblings and their families and numerous friends and colleagues.

Her family and friends were amazed by her positive attitude, even when her medical visits were less than positive. Her greatest gifts were her intuition and positivity despite her illness. She never stopped encouraging and cheering others on even when she herself needed lifting up. Each person she interacted with felt like the most important person to her. But what was it about her that had such a wide appeal? We find it was her instinctive knowledge for what was really important in all our lives. This was the unique, the extraordinary and irreplaceable Peaches, whose beauty, both internal and external will never be erased from our minds.

We prayed she would overcome her last hospitalization and recover fully and that this day of goodbye would not become a reality, but God had other plans.

Diana went to her rest on Friday, February 19, 2021.

Diana Alecia Laing will be greatly missed by loving son: Jayce (Patrice), loving daughter: Alecia, sister: Jasmin (Norman), brother: Danny; Nieces: Jayonne, Janay: Nephew: John David; cousins; numerous friends, confidantes and colleagues. She is predeceased by her mother, Ivy; father, Alexander; brother, Clement; stepfather, Sydney.

Indeed Diana has left us a powerful legacy of fortitude, resilience, hope and faith. We will never forget her smile. We will never forget her laughter. We will also never forget the fact that will tell you like it is when the situation arose

As some people journey through life, they leave footprints wherever they go-

footprints of kindness, love, courage, compassion, humor, inspiration, joy and faith.

Even when they are gone, we can still look back and clearly see the trail-

A trail bright with hope that invites us to follow

May we all follow Diana’s trail.