Diann Balfe

Sandra Diann Dupree Balfe, age 50, died at home on Friday, August 27, 2010 following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on December 30, 1959 in Dallas, TX. Diann was raised in Atlanta TX, where she became involved in church and music. She began playing piano in elementary school and continued playing individually and for youth choirs and churches. Diann was also involved in band and graduated as valedictorian in 1978 from Atlanta High School. She received her Bachelors in Business with music minor from East Texas Baptist University in 1983. Diann continued her career at First National Bank in Marshall, TX, where she met Steve. They wed in 1984 at First Baptist Church in Atlanta, TX and Diann became a stay at home mom, which she continued until she began working in church administration and school music programs. For the last several years, Diann was Registrar at Galatas Elementary in The Woodlands. Diann's love and ministry has always been in music, where she faithfully served as a church pianist and accompanist for 32 years in several churches. She was currently a member of the First Baptist Church-The Woodlands; prior to that at Ellerbe Road Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA, Central Baptist Church in Marshall, TX and First Baptist Church in Atlanta, TX.Diann was preceded in death recently by her father, Bennie Dupree, and is survived by her husband, Steven Balfe; children, Katie Balfe and Allison Balfe, all of The Woodlands; her mother, Peggy Dupree of Atlanta, TX; brother, Mike Dupree and his wife Donna; parents-in-law, James and Helen Balfe of Shreveport, LA, sister-in-law, Suellen Balfe; brother-in-law, Jim Balfe and his wife Charlotte; nephews, Jacob and Jordan Dupree and Brian and Michael Balfe; and Michael's wife, Cassie.