Jean Diane Walley Wilson Murphy

How does one go about summarizing someone's life, with giving justice to all of the nuances and monotonous days, mountain highs and valley lows, and yet, this is the task set before us. Jean 'Diane' Walley Wilson Murphy entered the presence of the Lord on Monday, December 22, 2025, due to complications of Parkinson's disease. Diane was born in Waynesboro, MS and was raised in Richton, MS. When asked about her time at Richton High School, she said she was voted Ms. RHS because it was "just her turn" to win something; always modest. She went on to study music at USM. After she graduated, she moved to the Gulf Coast and taught music in the Biloxi school system. Over the years, Diane taught countless students in Biloxi, Gulfport, and D'Iberville, primarily as a kindergarten teacher.

Diane used her talents as a pianist for decades. She enjoyed teaching piano and served faithfully as a pianist at First Baptist Church of Biloxi and Parkway Baptist Church of Biloxi. She also played for many weddings and funerals over the years…too many to count. In retirement, she helped with her grandchildren, enjoyed reading and piddled around her house. Diane loved her friends and family, and she was loved by her friends and family. She was truly blessed to have so many friends throughout her life. Even though she was small in stature, Diane loved to eat, and she loved her red Prelude car. Despite the loss of her home in hurricane Katrina, she was resilient and made it through with the help of many friends and family members. She was a creature of habit with her daily honeybun and instant coffee, practicing piano, her love of housecoats and most importantly, reading her Bible. She was faithful to the Lord and finished the race in her faith in Christ (2 Timothy 4:7).

Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Alton and Boncile (Bonnie) Walley, and her brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy Dale and Jan Walley. Diane is survived by her husband, Jon Murphy, who faithfully cared for her in the last years of her life. She is also survived by her two children, Perry and Sally, with whom she shared with Gary Wilson. She is survived by their families, daughter-in-law Kelli Wilson, and two grandchildren Luke and Lacy Wilson of Gulfport, MS, and son-in-law Ricardo Moody of Hattiesburg, MS. Diane is also survived by her nephews Jared and Jason Walley and their families, as well as her mother-in law, Hope Murphy, and sisters-in-law and their spouses, Cheryl and Gerald Bracey, and Gina and David Gunn.

Thank you to the many church family members, friends, and neighbors who have prayed, cared for, and served our family in so many loving and caring ways. Thank you to VitalCaring Hospice who helped Jon care for Diane so well. We are so grateful for the exceptional care given by her nurse, Courtney, and her Aid, Felicia. Diane’s passing is bittersweet, and she will be greatly missed, but the hope of her salvation is that she is now with Christ. "So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 6-8.

Friends are invited to join the family for visitation and services on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Parkway Baptist Church in Biloxi. Visitation will be held from 10 until 11 AM, with a funeral service beginning at 11 AM. Diane will then be laid to rest at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Gulfport.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Biloxi, is serving the family. Please sign the online guest book and share memories and photos at www.riemannfamily.com.