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At 11:00 AM on Sunday, September 4, 2016, God reached out his mighty and loving hand and said, “Dianne, Welcome home, my good and faithful servant!”
Dianne Sampson Lennon was born on April 10, 1943 to Roy Sampson and Mary Alice Himple in Clinton, North Carolina. Soon after, she was adopted by her Aunt and Uncle, Ulysses and Augusta Sampson.

Dianne attended elementary and high school in Clinton, North Carolina. Continuing her education she attended North Carolina Central University (NCCU) earning a Bachelor of Science Degree, and later a Master of Arts Degree in Education Administration from Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey. She also did post graduate studies at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In 1982, she married the love of her life Thayer Lennon. This wonderful union lasted until his death in 1994.

After graduating from NCCU in 1965, she moved to Atlantic County, New Jersey and was employed by the Farmers Home Administration, US Department of Agriculture in Mays Landing/Bridgeton, New Jersey as Home Maintenance Supervisor. In 1970 Dianne joined the Rutgers Cooperative Extension where she excelled and advanced to the rank of full professorship.

She will be remembered for her compassionate and sweet spirit and for her untiring support of and commitment to the parents and children in Extended Food and Nutrition Extension Program (EFNEP). As Extension Home Economist she served as administrator for the EFNEP for Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Department of Home Economics (now Dept. of Family & Community Health). She worked in the Atlantic as well as Cape May and Cumberland Counties for 30+ years. Dianne retired in 2002, as full professor from the Department of Family & Consumer Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Dianne was President of the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences 1995-1996, New Jersey Extension Family & Consumer Sciences 1992-94, and New Jersey Home Economics Association 1978-1979. She also provided leadership for many other professional organizations. In 1987 she was awarded the highest honor by the NJ Home Economics Association, “NJ Home Economist of the Year.”

In addition, she received numerous awards for her outstanding leadership and program accomplishments.
Dianne, represented Rutgers the State University of New Jersey from 2004-2015 and was a member of the National Council Agriculture Research Extension and Teaching (CARET) and an active officer for the Northeast Region. CARET was created by the Administrative Heads Section, Board on Agriculture Assembly of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).

In 2008, Dianne was inducted into the Atlantic County Hall of Fame in the field of Education. She also received the Freedom Fund Award in 2004 from the NAACP and served on many more public service boards and committees. She received numerous awards and honors for her work and commitment.

In retirement she developed a program entitled “Grandparent as Parents” at New York Avenue School through the Parent Center in Atlantic City School District, Atlantic City, New Jersey and continued until she became ill.

Dianne was a member of the Atlantic City Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, holding many leadership offices, including President and Chairman of the Services to Youth Facet. Dianne was a member of the Board of Governors of AtlantiCare, where she served as secretary. She also served on the board of Ruth Newman Shapiro Heart and Cancer Fund. Dianne held memberships in the NAACP Atlantic City Chapter, 101 Women Plus, AAUW, the Women’s Leadership Initiative of the United Way, and she was a dedicated and faithful member of Jethro Memorial Presbyterian Church.


She leaves to cherish her memories, a niece, Shiease Puryear of Raleigh, North Carolina, a great-niece, Simone Stowe, also of Raleigh, a nephew, Javiar Puryear of Durham, North Carolina, a stepdaughter, Traci Lennon of Hawaii, two stepsons, Lawrence Lennon, of Allentown, Pennsylvania and Thayer John Lennon of New Brunswick, New Jersey; special cousins Lillian Spearman (Wendell) of Fayetteville, North Carolina and Fred Hines of Greensboro, North Carolina, and a host of other relatives. She also leaves to mourn her loss, special friends Michael and Rosetta ”Frankie” Johnson and family, Bessie Lee Watts, Darsene Baggett and Juanita Carr, along with a host of other friends.

Dianne loved her family, her friends, her work and her God. Her motto: “When we have done our best, we should await the results in peace”- J. Lubbock

Services for Dianne will be held at 11:00 am, on Saturday September 10, 2016 at the Jethro Memorial Presbyterian Church, 423 Ohio Ave, Atlantic City, NJ. A viewing will be held from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, prior to the service. Interment will be at the Atlantic County Veteran’s Cemetery in Estell Manor, NJ

Arrangements entrusted to and condolences for the family may be left at Adams-Perfect.com