Judge Dianne Marie Mayo, age 62, was born December 8, 1957 in Lake Charles, Louisiana to Gilbert Vernon Mayo Sr. and the late Shirley Rosette Mayo.  She departed this life on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at her family home in Lake Charles, Louisiana surrounded by family.

Dianne accepted Christ at an early age and as a child and young adult practiced the Baptist faith. She later     converted to Catholicism.  She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lake Charles,     Louisiana, but, while living in Opelousas, Louisiana, attended Holy Ghost Catholic Church.

Dianne attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated as salutatorian from Marion High School in 1975.  Upon graduation, she attended Southwestern Louisiana University (USL) in Lafayette, Louisiana and graduated in 1979 with a B.A. in Political Science. She gave birth to her only child, Marcus Wayne Mayo, on December 23, 1979.  After graduation, Dianne was employed with Southwest Louisiana Legal Services as a paralegal and due to the love of what she was doing decided to go to law school.  From 1981-1984, she attended Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she received her Juris Doctorate. During her legal career, she worked as a Senior    Attorney and Managing Attorney for Southwest Louisiana Legal Service in Lake Charles and Jonesville, Louisiana, Senior Attorney with Support Enforcement Services, Solo Practitioner with an office in Lake Charles and Opelousas, Louisiana, and City Attorney for the City of Opelousas.  In 2011, she started out as a mediator in the Lafayette    office of the Louisiana Workforce Commission Office of Workers' Compensation, and in 2016 was sworn in as a Workers' Compensation Judge in the Lake Charles Office where she remained until her health failed and she retired in February 2020.

Dianne was an avid reader, cook and sports enthusiast.  She was known to call family and friends and say "the food is ready".  But most of all, Dianne enjoyed watching and coaching her grandson, Marcques, from the sidelines as he played football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis and track. She would travel near and far to watch his games and she was truly his #1 fan.  She would call her siblings and close friends every day asking, "Where are you and what are you doing?"

Judge Mayo was a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, National Bar Association, American Bar      Association, Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, Calcasieu Parish Bar Association, and Louisiana City Attorney's Association, Lake Charles Chapter of the Louis A. Martinet Society, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Dianne was preceded in death by her son, Marcus Wayne Mayo; mother, Shirley Rosette Mayo; and siblings,   Linda, Christopher and Gilbert, Jr.  She leaves to cherish her memories, grandson, Marcques Javon Mayo of Opelousas, Louisiana; father, Gilbert Vernon Mayo Sr., of Lake Charles, Louisiana; sisters, Deborah Garriet (Larry Hawkins), Constance Mayo of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Latricia Hope Mayo of Opelousas, Louisiana; brothers, Dr. William Emil Mayo and Patrick Wayne Mayo of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Also, special and dear friends, Attorney Belinda Matthews, Attorney Anna Simmons, Attorney Lorraine Griffin, Deborah Mayo Beane, Mathilda Rigmaiden and Jessica Singleton; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.