Diann Rallinson Thomas

Linda Diann Rallinson Thomas, age 73, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away on Thursday, January 22, 2026, surrounded by family, friends, songs, prayers, tears and laughter.

Born in Bastrop, Louisiana, Diann grew up in Mer Rouge and Taylor, Louisiana. She attended Gibsland High School and played basketball there. She graduated in 1970, as salutatorian of her class, after getting a B+ in Driver’s Ed. After graduation, she worked for a summer at Glorieta in New Mexico, and soon moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she worked in the office at Pak A Sak grocery, and for the Louisiana State Police as a fingerprint technician.

She met James Thomas, the love of her life, when she was 13 and he was 15. They married in 1972, at Taylor Baptist Church and remained married for 53 years.

Diann was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, and a committed church member in every congregation she was a part of. She was also a devoted volunteer in the ministries of every church she attended. She served as librarian, WMU Director, Baptist Women’s coordinator, and Food Closet manager at Jefferson Baptist Church. For a time, she even served as WMU Director for the former Judson Baptist Association. As a member of South Airline Baptist Church, she worked in youth ministry, Management Team, and the Pastor Search Committee. When SABC became Crosspoint, she and James were among the founding members. She volunteered as a greeter and worship leader in the preschool and cherished her role as the notorious “candy lady” for the children of the church. You may also remember her as Postmistress of the Lottie Moon Post office at Christmas time.

She played softball for many years and even coached the junior high boys' team for a period of time. She enjoyed traveling to the beach, Disney World, the Renaissance Festival, and to see her grandchildren in Houston. In recent years, she could be found sitting on her back porch enjoying the music of wind chimes, watching birds, and feeding the squirrels.

She cared for the children of other people as though they were her own and was like a mother or grandmother to many. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, mother, wife, grandmother and friend. Her humor, warmth and compassion extended past family and friends and even to strangers she encountered.

She is preceded in death by her father, W.H. Rallinson Jr., and her brother, Gary Wayne “Pete” Rallinson.

Diann is survived by her beloved husband, James Thomas; her son Jason Thomas and daughter-in-law Abby Thomas; her daughter Casey Thomas Whitworth and son-in-law John Whitworth; grandsons James and Jesse Thomas, and granddaughter Evangeline Ruth Whitworth; her mother, Johnnie Rallinson; and siblings, Janice Rallinson Spears and Cathy Rallinson Lee.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at CrossPoint Baptist Church, 14965 Airline Highway in Baton Rouge. A Visitation will begin at the church at 1:00 PM, with funeral services starting at 2:00 PM. Burial will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.