Diane Morris DeBlock, Accomplished Dancer, Decatur Native, Dies At 85

Written by Carolyn Black

DECATUR, GA -- Diane Morris DeBlock, an accomplished dancer, beloved wife and mother to three daughters, passed away in Santa Cruz County, California on July 19, 2017, with Parkinson’s disease. She was preceded by her husband of 36 years, John Lambert DeBlock Jr., on October 26, 2009, and her brother, Kent Broyles Morris, on December 27, 2015.

Born on May 27, 1932 in Decatur, Georgia, to Maryland Virginia and Henry Alexander Morris, Diane attended Decatur Girls’ High School and Agnes Scott College. SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

She was voted Miss Decatur High by her high school peers. Diane started dance at age 4, and pursued her passion for dance until she ultimately become a professional dancer and prima ballerina with the Atlanta Ballet Company.

She was a dance instructor at Agnes Scott, and also danced as a volunteer with the USO abroad. She spent time as a professional model, earning the title of Miss Teen of Atlanta at 17 years of age. Diane continued her dance training and career, landing several leads in major productions. She also attended Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia until 1953.
Diane was first married to Dock F. Black, of Atlanta, a graduate of Georgia Tech, from 1951 - 1970, and eventually they landed in Norwalk, Connecticut in 1963. She began a 22-year career in Connecticut with the American Red Cross.

She loved reaching out to people and helping those in need, which led to her employment there where she ultimately took the position of Executive Director of the Norwalk - Wilton Chapter of the American Red Cross, one of the largest chapters in the New England region.

In 1982, Diane married the love of her life, John L. DeBlock, Jr, and they relocated to Matthews, NC to be close to her brother and mother. As a couple, they traveled all over the world, loved to dance and entertain their many friends, and even owned a restaurant together. Jack and Diane eventually left North Carolina to live in their dream house by the beach in Pawleys Island, SC.

During this time, Diane learned that she loved to cook for other people, and she began training at the Culinary Arts Institute, then successfully qualified to attend La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine in Paris. Diane achieved Master Chef level, and shared her talents regularly with her family and friends.

In Pawleys Island, Diane became involved with a wonderful group of women who became her dearest friends, known as the “Lunch Bunch”, and Red Hat Ladies around town. She also joined All Saints Church with Jack, where she became the manager of their commercial kitchen and all food services for a parish of 6000 members.

Later Diane became a member of the Vestry, and served in that capacity for several years. She was vivacious, loved life, had a kind and gracious spirit, and was admired by all who knew her for her style and grace.

Diane is survived by her three daughters, Susie Black LaPosta, of Hamden, Connecticut, Marilyn Kent Black, of Monterey, California, and Carolyn Black Ribot, of Atlanta, Georgia, and five grandchildren: Jonathan Robert Fox, of San Antonio, Texas, Diane Margaret LaPosta, of New York City, James Edward LaPosta III, of New York City, Elise Lauren Ribot, and Denis Alexander Ribot, both of Atlanta, Georgia. Diane has two great granddaughters, Juniper Roselyn Fox and Violet Ida Fox, of San Antonio, Texas.

The family is planning a Celebration of Diane’s life in October in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. For more information, inquire at obit.response@gmail.com. Accepting donations in her name to Brookgreen Gardens, PO Box 3368, ATT: Wendy Belser, Pawleys Island, SC 29585 in lieu of flowers.

Image via Carolyn Black