SUFFOLK - Diana K. "Di" Prather, 67, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011. During her last hours she was surrounded by her family and friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Dorothy and Luther Prather; a sister, Margaret "Peggy" Neville; and a brother, John Luther Prather. Diana is survived by her beloved daughter, Sheryl Smith and her husband Ventry of Suffolk; two step-daughters, Dawn Serafine of Chesapeake and Wendy Horne of Roanoke; grandchildren, Sarah Katie Sica and her husband John, Leslie Smith, Ventry "Trey" Smith, Corey Thomasson, Kelly Thomasson, Vanessa Serafine, Gabriella Serafine, Kyle Horne, Ryan Horne, and Stephanie Pettit and her husband Dave; and two great-grandchildren, Caleb Sica and Leah Pettit; a devoted sister Carole Gilliam of Meherrin; very dear friends, Betty Ruth Lehr, Barbara Bass and Margaret Turner; a brother-in-law, Jesse Neville; sister-in-law, Hope Prather; former husband, Bill Herndon; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She will be deeply missed. Diana attended Cradock High School, Class of 1962. She had a strong faith and belief in Jesus Christ and was an active member of New Creation United Methodist Church, Aldersgate Campus, in Chesapeake. She retired from the U.S. Coast Guard Finance Center in 2005 after a 38-year career with the U.S. Coast Guard. Over the years, she was a member of many civic organizations, especially the American Cancer Society 's Relay For Life and the Parrotheads. Diana was a vivacious person who loved life and lived it to the fullest. Her hobbies included sewing, all types of needlework, painting, framing, writing and reading. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, in New Creation United Methodist Church, Aldersgate Campus, by the Rev. David Drinkard. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to New Creation United Methodist Church, Aldersgate Campus, 4320 Bruce Road, Chesapeake, VA 23321. www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com.

Published in The Virginian Pilot on September 22, 2011