Dianne

Evans

LANCASTER, SC ~ Mrs. Dianne Threatt Evans was called home to Heaven on November 5th, 2026, at the age of 83. Born January 22, 1943, she was a lifelong Lancaster resident and her presence throughout the Buford community will be deeply missed by all who were privileged to know her.

Still referred to by so many former students as “Mrs. Evans,” she devoted her life to the pursuit of education. As a first generation-college student, she prided herself on the immense impact education had on her life and those around her. She earned both a Bachelor and Master of Science from Winthrop University before also achieving a Specialist of School Psychology degree, also from Winthrop.

In a career that spanned almost fifty years, she served as a teacher and counselor at her alma mater, Buford High School, as well as a school psychologist for the Lancaster County School District. While at Buford, she established the first college-credit level coursework at the high school. She left Buford in 1987 and transitioned to the University of South Carolina- Lancaster to teach in the Psychology department. In addition to her multiple psychology courses, she also served as Counseling Center Director, where she regularly offered career and personal counseling. She was instrumental in establishing the Barbara Ann Howze Memorial Scholarship for Handicapped Students in honor of her cousin, who was the first wheelchair-bound student to earn a degree from USCL. She retired as Professor Emerita of Psychology in 2009 and maintained strong connections with the school through guest lecturing, scholarship luncheons, and the utilization of one of her books as required class material. She was a gifted academic and received numerous commendations and distinctions throughout her career, including being voted USCL Distinguished Teacher of the Year on four separate occasions during her tenure.

After retiring from the teaching profession, her continued pursuit of learning and literacy led to the publication of two books, “…as yesterday when it is past…” and Saving Remnants, among various other works. Her writing talents were regularly recognized in local and regional publications, including The Lancaster News and The Upper Room. She also possessed a talent for speaking and presenting, and was regularly asked to deliver messages to classes, support groups, church gatherings, and more. She was known for having the unique ability to always produce the right words that those around her needed to hear.

In addition to her passion for academia, she possessed a strong Christian faith and was a lifelong member of Hopewell Methodist Church. Throughout her time as a member, she served the church in various capacities: she taught Sunday School for over fifty years, served on every committee of the church council, was a certified lay speaker, and regularly helped host congregational gatherings and meetings.

She had a strong connection to nature and spent much of her time outdoors. She often found peace and drew inspiration from being “in the woods.” She believed that the natural elements of the world were gifts from God and should be treated and celebrated as such. Much of what influenced her writing and outlook on life came from time spent on the property at her home, specifically in the cabin built for her by her husband. She could regularly be found writing in her study in the cabin or playing hymns on her keyboard in the “Chapel in the Woods,” which was also built for her by her husband.

Family was of utmost importance to her, and she loved and cherished the members of her family, who affectionately referred to her as “Musey.” She was the loving wife and high school sweetheart of Donald Richard Evans, with whom she had two wonderful daughters- Dawn Evans of Charlotte, NC, and Dana Evans McDow of Albemarle, NC. She was endearingly grateful for her son-in-law, Carl McDow, and adored her grandsons Evan, Alex, and Ellison, all of whom she was incredibly proud of and regularly bragged about to any who would listen.

She was an amazingly special woman that possessed an immense amount of strength, wisdom, kindness and class. She will be terribly missed by all who were touched by her grace.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, November 12th at 2:00 at the University of South Carolina- Lancaster campus, in the Bradley Arts and Sciences Building. A reception with the family will follow in the Special Events Room.

Tributes can be made to the Barbara Ann Howze Memorial Scholarship for Handicapped Students at the University of South Carolina- Lancaster, as well as Hopewell Methodist Church.