Patricia "Dianne" Redcross was born August 27, 1949 in Bowling Green, Virginia to the late Adolph Nelson and Doris Nelson (whom still resides in Bowling Green). She entered eternal rest at home on Monday, May 15, 2023.

Dianne was one of four sisters who spent their formative years as "farmer's" daughters. Upon graduation as valedictorian from Union High school, she attended Howard University where she received her Bachelor of Music Education degree. She later attended Teachers College, Columbia University located in New York City, where she continued her graduate studies in music education. She started her teaching career in Washington, D.C. in 1974 before moving to Hampton in 1979. She resumed teaching in 1980 in the Newport News Public School system. Dianne retired in 2011 after serving 31 years as a middle school choral director, 30 years of which had been at Hines Middle School. In 1983, she and her husband started their own private music studio in Hampton that was known as R-D Music Studio. In May 2000, they opened a new facility and expanded their course offerings to include dance and drama. Hampton Academy of Music, Dance, and Drama, Inc. is now serving students from the Hampton Roads area exposing them to the many facets of the performing arts.

One of Dianne's most cherished accomplishments had been starting the Voices of Unity Choir that consisted of children from Carver Presbyterian and St. Augustine's Episcopal churches in the mid 1980's. For over 35 years she was in the forefront of providing music for both churches on select Sundays thus exposing the children to what it meant to use their talents to serve God and God's people through song. She also made notable trips out of town to Atlanta, Georgia and to Disney World in Orlando, Florida and Hershey's Park to name a few. These trips further exposed the children to performing opportunities that may have not been possible without her love and her desire to see them grow as individuals.

Dianne has always strived to encourage her students to be the best they could be and this was made manifest in the many superior ratings she and her students from Hines Middle School had received at choral music festivals. A stickler for details in everything she did had led her to success in the classroom as well as her personal life.

Dianne and her husband, Roscoe, have been married for 47 years, 8 months, 22 days and out of that union has come twin sons, Jonathan (Karla), Julian (Latisha), and three grandsons Jahaziel, Jakobi, and Jamahni. Also left to cherish her memories are her mother Doris Nelson, loving sisters Carolyn Nelson, Dale Grigsby, and Sharon Craig (Randall) along with her aunts Ollie Pollard and Mary Langston and nephew Michael Grigsby.  Along with a host of cousins, she will be greatly missed by family and friends. Dianne had a deep and abiding love for all of her family, friends, and church's she had been affiliated with throughout the years. This special love complimented the special place in her heart for the children she had mentored.

Viewing will be held Tuesday, May 23, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m at Cooke Bros. Funeral Chapel, 1601-27th street, Newport News, VA. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, 2515 Marshall Avenue, Newport News, VA.  Interment will follow in Hampton Memorial Gardens.