Mrs. Diana Knight Wilcox, age 75, passed away on August 20, 2025 after a courageous battle with a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. She departed peacefully at Emory University Hospital Midtown surrounded by loved ones. Despite facing the challenges of her illness, she remained a beacon of hope and inspiration to all who knew her.
Born in Douglas, Georgia, to James and Elousie Maddox, Diana grew up in Hazlehurst, Georgia. They eventually moved to Atlanta, where she attended high school and later met her husband of 41 years, Peter Wilcox.
A South Georgia girl at heart, Diana lived most of her adult life in Alpharetta, GA, where she raised her children and later at Grandview Lake in Jasper, GA and most currently resided in Vinings, GA. She was a graduate of Georgia State University with a B.B.A. in Hospitality Management. Diana was the Proprietor of Sweetapple Antiques (Crabapple/Milton, GA) and her interests and volunteer efforts include the North Fulton Junior League, Alpharetta Woman's Club, Alpharetta Garden Club, Alpharetta Historical Society, Alpharetta Convention and Visitors' Bureau, Church Member and Altar Guild Member at St. David's Episcopal Church (Roswell, GA) and then Holy Family Episcopal Church (Jasper, GA).
Diana was an avid gardener and very passionate about antiques. She adored her family and never missed a chance to celebrate a holiday or support one of her grandchildren in any way. Her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her, and her strength will continue to inspire generations to come.
Along with her parents, Diana is preceded in death by her brothers, Jimmy Hugh and Freddie Maddox and her sister, Ilene Harris.
She is survived by her husband, Peter Wilcox; sister, Janice White (Dale) of Murphy, North Carolina; sons, Mark Knight (Maria), of Monroe, Georgia, Tim Knight (Lori), of Woodstock, Georgia, Ben Wilcox, of Dalton, Georgia; daughter Chase Johnson (Matt) of Roswell, Georgia; step-son, Peter Wilcox Jr (Nikki) of Forsyth, Georgia; step-daughter, Jay MacDonald (Ian) of Waynesville, North Carolina; 14 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild and many friends.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the remarkable staff at Emory Winship Cancer Institute and Emory Midtown Hospital (Bridgeway Hospice), whose compassion and dedication provided comfort to Diana during her final days.
The family will receive friends Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 5-7 PM, at the Northside Chapel at 12050 Crabapple Rd. Roswell, Georgia. The funeral service will be Monday, August 25, 2025, at 10:30 AM, at Birmingham United Methodist Church at 15770 Birmingham Hwy, Milton, Georgia. Interment will follow at Westview Cemetery, 1680 Westview Dr SW, Atlanta, GA.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Diana may be made in support of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University for the purpose of Winship Sarcoma Fund.