Diane Louise Fussell

Diane Louise Fussell was born on August 24, 1946, in Centreville, MD to Amos and Sarah Sewell. She passed on February 25, 2026, at Christiana Hospital in Newark, DE.

Diane received her early education in Maryland at Worton elementary (one room schoolhouse), Garnet Elementary and graduated from Henry Highland Garnet in 1964.She continued her education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. During hertime of study Diane became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. She studied Biology, with a particular interest in Genetics and sought career in the field of science eventually working at the Cleveland Clinic as a research scientist. It was here that she would work in genetics and worked with vaccine development. Diane eventually transitioned her career interests to teaching and taught Biology to grades ranging from7th grade to college. During her 20+ years of teaching, Diane taught in Ohio, Maryland and Delaware, receiving recognition as teacher of the year in the state of Missouri.

Diane had many interests, cooking, self-care, music and basketball being her favorites. She enjoyed feeding the recipes she grew up on to her grandson, who now prefers home cooking to eating out. She enjoyed painting her nails and getting her hair done, which is a trait she passed down to her granddaughter. Her love of music spanned several genres. She liked Barbra Streisand to Beyonce. Every weekend, she would turn the music on and dance and sing with her family. This would begin with her daughter and continue with her grandchildren. Her love of basketball was very important to her. In the 1970s, Diane would attend almost every NBA game and watch every game she could. She knew the players and their statistics. Finally, Diane’s love of family is how she ended up in Delaware. After 15 ½ years in Kansas and spending almost every summer in Maryland and talking to her sisters every night on the phone like they hadn’t talked in months for hours and her brother to hear the rest of what’s happening. Diane and her family decided to relocate to Delaware in 1987.

Diane was preceded in death by her husband Timothy Fussell, and her parents, Sarah and Amos Sewell. 

Diane is survived by her daughter, Tonya Fussell, and grandson, Mekhi Fussell. Granddaughter-Marshell Fussell; Brother-Sylvester Sewell; Sisters-Doris Reese (Billy)and Mildred Coats (Clarence); 2 Aunts, nieces, nephews and a host of cousins.