On Sunday, June 2, 2024, Ms. Diane Eloise Ames passed away at her home in Temperanceville. Diane was born on Dec. 4, 1954, in Exmore, to Milton E. Ames Sr. and Elizabeth Holiday Thomas Ames. She was the second oldest girl of five children.
Diane graduated from Northampton High School in 1973. She continued her pursuit of academic excellence by receiving her bachelor’s degree in business education from Radford College and her master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University.
Diane taught business education in Accomack County Public Schools for 37 years. She began her teaching career at Central High School. In 1984, Nandua High School opened through the merger of Onancock High School and Central High School. Diane was one of the first business teachers at Nandua High School, teaching keyboarding and accounting.
She continued to expand her computer knowledge and received several computer program certifications. She had extensive Microsoft Suite certifications, which made her a subject matter expert in the computer programs she taught her students. She was adamant about fostering her students to produce quality and professional work, regardless of their academic struggles.
Diane excelled as an outstanding educator throughout her career because of two significant mentors and role models — coworker, Mr. Jesse Poulson, and her high school teacher, Mrs. Mary N. Kellam. Diane also taught adult business classes at Eastern Shore Community College and for Accomack County Public Schools.
Diane, known as “Ms. Ames,” maintained an orderly classroom and enforced strict standards of conduct and respect. She wanted her students to gain valuable and useful knowledge of the business industry that would be beneficial tools and life skills in their chosen careers. Diane communicated and demonstrated this philosophy in her leadership role as one of the teachers in charge of the Future Business Leaders of America club by having field trips and encouraging students to participate in local and state conferences/events.
She was also active in her community. She served as a Girl Scout troop leader for the troop that met at Eastern Shore Community College. Over 40 youth, spanning all levels of Girl Scouts and ages 5 to 18, participated in the program with six volunteers in the early 1990s. During the first year of the troop, they sold over $28,000 worth of Girl Scout Cookies, a significant amount at that time, equivalent to $68,000 today. Members of the Girl Scouts participated in educational activities, field trips, camping trips, and various educational programs. They buried a time capsule that was excavated 20 years later in 2012 at Eastern Shore Community College. After retiring, Diane served as a church secretary for Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Jenkins Bridge.
Diane’s passion for life and cooking was expressed in her active involvement in nurturing her nieces and nephews and providing home-cooked, delicious, and mouthwatering meals for all the kids at their grandmother’s house. Aunt Di, as she was affectionately called by her nieces and nephews, took them to plays, movies, museums, and parks to expose them to different educational activities.
Diane was also devoted to her parents, investing time and money to make them happy. She gave her father a television with a remote control so he would stop calling her to change the channel. She finally convinced her mother to start using the dryer and not hang clothes out in the winter months. She often spoke of how frugal her parents were and how she had to beg her father to buy her a typewriter and a watch. However, Diane was a person who showed love whenever she was around her loved ones and never bit her tongue when she had something to say.
Diane’s love of cooking was her source of joy, and she enjoyed cooking for friends and relatives. Diane believed in buying the best name-brand pots and pans, kitchen appliances, and tools, thoroughly investigating each item before purchasing. She expanded her culinary skills by watching the Cooking Channel and YouTube cooking videos to explore ways of creating masterful and delicious foods.
Diane hosted summer family events when she purchased her home in Temperanceville. She also was an avid lover of rhythm and blues/soul music, especially the classics like “Clean Up Woman,” “Put It On Paper,” and “Love Them & Leave Them.” She enjoyed watching television shows like “Star Trek,” “Law and Order,” “Matlock,” “Murder She Wrote,” and many others. Diane was also the family historian who could tell you all of their relatives and how they were related, along with a little about each relative.
Diane leaves to cherish her memories her son, Aaron Ames; brothers, Milton E. Ames Jr. (Linda), of Tucson, Ariz., and Larry E. Ames (Geraldine), of Chesapeake; sisters, Brenda E. Holden (Ronnie), of Onancock, and Gloria D. Bailey, of Melfa; and one aunt, Glory Carrie Dean Byrd, of Hampton; nieces and nephews, Hope (LeCarston) Chestnut, Larry Esau Ames Jr., Ronnita (James) Holden-Heyward, Gerald Patrick Ames, Alexandra (David) Ames, Heather (Winston) Tucker, Alison Ames, Travis Bailey, Gabriel Bailey, and Kristen Bailey; great-nieces and nephews, Jazmine Wiggins, Talia Ames, Aliyah Ames, Naayah Ames, Jabriel Ames, Ronnie T. Harmon, Brandon Littleton, Angel Chestnut, and Trinity Bailey; great-great-nieces and nephews, Brian Pierce-Bailey, King Ames, Alyssa Tucker, Alanna Tucker, and Noah Tucker; first cousins, Robert Ames Jr., Reynold “Boney” Byrd, Mary Akers, Phyllis Baker, Ydetta Rogers, and Yetta Howard, lifetime best friends, Renee Clark, of Bartonville, Pa., Diane “Shirley” Harmon, of Richmond, and Paulette Harrison, of Knoxville, Tenn.; and many other cousins and friends.
Diane Ames’ legacy of love, education, and community service will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.
Diane E. Ames
Scholarship Fund
A memorial scholarship fund has been established to support students aspiring to become future business and education professionals. This fund aims to help these individuals further their education and achieve their dreams. Your donation will have a lasting impact, enabling students to pursue their academic and professional goals while honoring the memory of our beloved Diane Ames.
Online donations may be made through PayPal, debit card, or credit card.
Mail checks or money orders to Diane E. Ames Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 321, Onley, VA 23418.
www.DianeAmesScholarship.com
