Minister Diann Buckley

Minister Diann McCray Buckley was born February 19, 1957 to Dorothy (McCray)Curry and Arthur Lee McCray in Chicago, Illinois. She attended catholic school while growing up in Chicago. She continued her Catholic school education at Nerinx Hall when she moved to St. Louis, MO and graduated in 1975. She then went on to SIUE. During that time period she met Darrell Buckley Sr. They married in 1982-1991 and from that union came two beautiful children, Shayla Buckley and Darrell Buckley Jr..

Diann was well educated and was employed by several great companies. She worked at State Hospital. She earned a certificate from Control Data Institute and worked at McDonald Douglas. She went to Forest Park Community College where she earned her Associate’s degree in early childhood development. She worked as a security officer for the President Casino, Deaconess Hospital,
Barnes Jewish Hospital and AT&T. She then decided to put her degree to use and worked as a teacher for Training Up A Child and then the Urban League. Diann wanted to continue her education and went on to receive a Master of Arts degree in Christian Counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary.

Diann loved the lord from a young age. She often spoke of how she used to walk to St. James Catholic Church as a child in Chicago. Her first church home after relocating to St. Louis was St. Phillips Evangelical Lutheran Church. She also visited churches like The Rock Church of St. Louis and Bethesda Temple Church of Apostolic Faith over the years. She ultimately became a dedicated member of the City of Life Christian Church where she participated in various ministries. Her most fulfilling ministry was the Lifeline ministry where she took calls from people in crisis and spoke the word to them. She also geared them towards resources that would help them through their situation.

On November 7, 2025 Our Heavenly Father called his angel home. Diann is proceeded in death by her father, Arthur Lee McCray and her brother, Kenneth Lee McCray. She leaves to cherish her memory her mother, Dorothy Curry; her daughter Shayla Buckley (Korey Jones); her son, Darrell Buckley Jr.; Nine siblings, Deborah Griffin (Maurice Griffin), Denise McCray, Kimberly Boone,
Arthur McCray Jr., Janice Wilson, Patricia Green (Walter Hardin), Connie Ivory, Angela Wilson McCray (Anthony McCray) and Tyrone Campbell; 5 granddaughters, Hailey Harris, Kayla Harris, Kiara Harris, DaShea Buckley-Lawshea and Imani Buckley-Lawshea; a very special cousin, Yvonne Brown; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Diann will truly be
missed by all who knew and loved her.

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