Mrs. Diane Whitson Sawyer, 80, of West Columbia, died Friday, March 15, 2024. She was born to the late Charles Edward Whitson and Georgia Mae Peddicord on September 14, 1943, in Harriman, TN.

Diane was a strong and independent woman. She loved and valued her family above all, and everything she did was for them. She was a phenomenal mother, spending countless hours making their home and providing for her children. She was a hard worker and passed those lessons on to her children and grandchildren. Her claim to fame was being "Big Momma" and "BeBe" to her grandchildren. There was no greater purpose in her eyes than to look after and care for them. Diane loved children and spent many years working at a daycare following her retirement from the textile mill.

She is survived by her children, Mona Sawyer, Trey Sawyer (Laura), Suzy Workman, and Leah Hucks (Adam); grandchildren, Ashley Bruce, Allison Rogers, Conor Workman, Georgia Workman, Tessa Workman, Brayden Workman, Isabella Hucks, Elissa Hucks, and Elijah Hucks; great-grandchildren, Danica Ward, Zaria Ward, and Aries Moore; and siblings, Phyllis Hardwick, Peggy Mims, and Cathy Middleton.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her best friend and love of her life, Boyd L. Sawyer, Jr.; and siblings, Ronald Alley and Becky Wiggins.

The memorial service for Diane will be held on Monday, March 18, at 1 o'clock at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC. The family will receive guests an hour prior to the service at the funeral home.