Diana Langley

The earth was blessed with this sweet soul on December 12, 1954 in Sparkman, Arkansas. What a joy!  Her life began as a sweet amber of light. She was a delight to her parents Albert and Dorothy Hill Evans. Diana was always inquisitive and began her life in the Lord very early on. Her love for the Lord only increased in the many years to come. From that time forward, she devoted herself faithfully and wholeheartedly to serve her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in each season of her life. As a child, she was a member of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and later became a member of the Apostolic Faith Church in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where she served faithfully for many years.

Diana was talented, kind and a patient young woman who when given the opportunity to learn, shared and experienced different aspects of life, she would take every advantage to do so. She served in her church, community and increased in knowledge and experience in time.

Diana was a 1972 graduate of Ouachita High School in Donaldson, Arkansas where she excelled as a youth in her studies and basketball until graduation. During her high school years, she was an exceptional girls varsity basketball player. Due to her extraordinary efforts and being a star player, along with her teammates many efforts were successful. During the state championship as the waters rose in her community, the administrators from the school took a boat to her community to pick her up so she would not miss the game. Indeed, she was phenomenal!

Furthering her educational endeavors, she attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia where she accomplished and received certifications in Computer Technology. In 1973, she was united in matrimony to Billy Beard, and to this union two children were born. They were blessed with Anthony and Jeffrey. She was a loving, compassionate and nurturing Mother even into their adult years.

Diana was employed with the following companies and organizations:  Levi (Excelled as a top seamstress, making one-hundred percent quota daily), Morris Automotive, Arkadelphia Public Schools (Administrative Assistant), Arkadelphia Public Schools Bus Driver. She worked very hard and enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. Diana was poised, graceful and strong, yet she walked in such humility. Later, she attended Apostolic Faith Church in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and later joined in 1991 where she served faithfully in various positions. She was detailed, a follower of the word of God and led many to the Lord. Ministry was her passion and her love of the move of the Holy Spirit was evident!

As a result of the move of God, she was later united in love and matrimony to the very handsome Elder James Langley on September 21, 2006, as he asked for her hand in marriage, she became the Pastor’s wife and served alongside her husband for over 18 years until her transition to be with the Lord.  The Lord blessed her with four additional children whom she shared with her husband, six total.

Diana transitioned from this earthly life to eternal life on February 20, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Dorothy Hill Evans, her sister Elsie Hamilton, four brothers, Larry Evans, Bobby Evans, Dwight Evans, and Arthur Evans.

Diana leaves a legacy of God’s love, forgiveness, strength, and compassion to all who met her.  Her husband, Elder James Langley cherishes the years of love and the epitome of a Proverbs 31 woman, for there shall be other like her. As the sun shines and the moon sets, we shall all reflect on the glory of God for her impact on each person, each remembrance, and every shared moment. For we know that her labor is not in vain.

We celebrate her life and the eternal destination as she leaves those cherished moments in time to her husband, James Langley of Arkadelphia, AR; one sister, Sandra (David) Beard Gamble of Highland Park, MI; two sons, Anthony Beard of Malvern, AR; Jeffrey Beard of Addison, TX; four bonus children, Keith (Rolanda) Lewis of Bryant, AR; Tammy Lewis of College Station, PA; Jamie (Renand) Langley Neptone of Brooklyn MA; Jason (Mitzi) Langley of Little Rock, AR; 14 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and special friends and sisters, Mary (Mae) Buckley and Patricia Norvell, both of Arkadelphia, AR. Sister Diana also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, friends, colleagues, and the Apostolic Church Family.

As we began this journey, we spoke of an amber of light….she created sight, the fragrance of God’s love, sound, and a long and beautiful flame….

Submitted by the family.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, and a celebration of her life will be at 11:00 a.m., both held at First United Pentecostal Church, 2711 Country Club Road, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923. The interment will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Joan, Arkansas.

Courtney Evans, Jasper Evans, Ryan Evans, David Avington, Christopher May, and DeWayne Akins will serve as active pallbearers. Honorable to mention are Marlon Hall, Christopher Avington, Emil Harrington, Randy Hicks, Issac Langley, and Mark Hamilton.