CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE December 27, 2021 10:00 AM Holy Temple Cathedral 15912 Lincoln Ave, • Harvey, IL Superintendent Douglas D. Moye, Sr., Pastor Pastor Kelvin Easter, officiating Destined to Win Christian Center Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25
ReflFLections on the Life and Legacy of Donetta “Toni” Diggs Donetta Toni Diggs, affectionately known to friends and family as Toni, was born on August 9, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. She passed into her eternal life on December 19, 2021. Toni was the oldest of five children born to Donnell and Charlene Rolark. Toni graduated from Willard Grammar School and later DuSable High School. Throughout her childhood and onto early adulthood, it was clear to anyone who knew her that she was a leader who was feisty and strong-willed. But in the same manner, she loved hard and strongly embraced those she cared about. In I972, she married Martin “Marty” Diggs and to this 19-year union three children were born: Theron, Erik and KaSandra (Nikki). They were her pride and joy. The birth of her children and her life-long desire to help others, also motivated Toni to further her education and pursue the field of Nursing. In 1985, she earned her Associates degree in Nursing from Kennedy King College, in Chicago, Illinois. That same year, she was elected Vice President of her nursing class and earned the school’s distinguished Nursing Scholarship Award. She soon started her career at St. Bernard Hospital where she was quickly promoted to Charge Nurse in the emergency department. Following her time at St. Bernard, she moved on to Provident Hospital and later the Illinois Foster Care Program, where she combined her medical expertise with her longtime experience working youth in her own community. Finally, she would go on to work at Cook County Hospital where she served as Nursing Coordinator, supervising a staff of 48 nurses throughout her 28 year nursing career before retiring in 2013. Of all Toni’s accomplishments, her greatest would-be accepting Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and savior. This relationship with Christ would bring her through many challenges, all the while knowing that no weapon formed against her would prosper! In the early 1980s, she became a faithful member of Monument of Faith Church where Richard D. Henton was the pastor. While there, she enjoyed her time serving in the choir and singing alongside Diana Taylor, her friend of over 50 years. She would later join Faith Outreach church in Chicago, Illinois. It was at Faith Outreach that she would meet her eventual Pastor, James E. Watson. Pastor Watson and his wife Yohannah founded the Abundant Life Teaching Center (ALTC) in 1984, where Toni was a member for 25 years. She gained many lifelong friendships from her time at ALTC and utilized her talents in several ministries within the church. Recalling her fond memories of serving in the choir at Monument of Faith, she brought her strong alto voice to the choir at ALTC.
She also led a thriving Friday night teen ministry along with fellow church member and friend, Diane Donelson. She and Diane, along with another member, Pernell Robinson, would later team up to teach a Sunday School class of young adults called God’s Posse. Each week, students in their class eagerly looked forward to the lessons this dynamic trio prepared. At the time of her passing, Toni was a dedicated member of Destined to Win Christian Center, where Kelvin Easter is the Pastor. In her leisure time, Toni enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas visiting her dear friend, Delores Porter, or South Carolina visiting her oldest grandson, Eric and family. You could also find her catching the latest Marvel or Star Wars movie with her son, Theron and youngest grandson, Tylan. She was also passionate about helping others and would give selflessly to see those around her succeed in life. She had even been known to open her own home to loved ones who did not have a place to stay. Over the last few months, as Toni would experience at least three separate hospital stays, she had begun to make peace with her transition into eternal life with her heavenly father. As the Bible states, in 2nd Corinthians 5:1 (the Message version) For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven, - God-made, not handmade, and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Days before her passing, her final words would be “Hey Nik Mo”, as she happily greeted her only daughter, Nikki, when she entered her hospital room. This familiar smile could also be seen whenever her son Theron would come in town and surprise her during one of these stays. She was proud knowing that her legacy of leadership, love and compassion would continue on through them. Likewise, it is the family’s hope that if you knew Toni, and if she no doubt blessed you in any way, that you will continue to cherish these memories in your heart as well. Here to celebrate her homegoing today are her children: Theron Diggs and Kasandra “Nikki” Diggs; Her siblings Arlene Whitelaw and Brother Johnny (Sherry) Rolark; Grandsons Eric Diggs Jr., Tylan Diggs and Christian Tucker; Granddaughter Laila Tucker; Goddaughter Jasmine (Sean) Smith; Daughter and Son-in-love Sherana (Raphael) Tucker; and a host of nieces, nephews and special friends. Toni was preceded in death by her loving parents, Darnell and Charlene Rolark, her dear son Erik Diggs, and her devoted brother Paul Rolark.
Celebration Of A Beautiful Life ORGAN PRELUDE MISTRESS OF CEREMONY Minister Pernell Robinson PROCESSIONAL Family Tramaine Hawkins, “Holy One” SCRIPTURE READING: Minister Michael Gordon, M.A.T. S. Community of Love Ministries Old Testament, Psalm 23 & New Testament, John14:1-6 PRAYER: Pastor Walter Dean Abounding in Christ Love Ministries SONG SELECTION: Joyce Harris “He’s Been Faithful” TWO MINUTE REMARKS SONG SELECTION: Darnetta Jones Medley “Blessed Assurance, His Eye Is On a Sparrow, To God Be the Glory” READING OF OBITUARY Natalie Salter EULOGY Pastor Kelvin Easter Destined to Win Christian Center RECESSIONAL Family Donald Lawrence “The Best Is Yet to Come” RECESSIONAL
Tributes FROM THE MOMENT YOU TOOK YOUR LAST BREATH WE CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU THE VOID WE FEEL. THERE’S AN EMPTINESS IN OUR HEARTS THAT ONLY GOD CAN FILL. Thank you for being a great mom, a woman of strength, a woman of determination, never letting life knock you down. We saw you work your way through college and excel in your career as a nurse. Growing up, we saw the sacrifices you made to make sure the three of us had what we needed and wanted. Even after losing both of your parents and son within 4 months of one another, you remained the rock of our family. The same grace that was on us then is even greater now in this season. Always wanting the best for your children, we watched you work tirelessly to provide a roof over our head! You would go to church 3 days/week and still report to work on time for a 12 hour shift! (Don’t wake her up!) Watching you do that every week taught us how to be resilient and dedicated! Always resourceful, you knew somebody for any type of job! Your diligence has rubbed off on your children and we want to thank you for all that you’ve given us! We had a GREAT childhood! We can honestly say we enjoyed our mother and you enjoyed watching us grow and mature into the adults you’ve raised us to be! Now who will we eat blueberry pancakes with every Sunday? Who will make the cherry cobbler that Nikki never eats? We can still here your enthusiastic greetings when walking in the door, “Heeeeeey Nikmo!” or “Heeeey Son!” Love, Theron and Nikki (Nikmo) Toni, you were not just our neighbor, you were our friend. I remember the times we would sit on the porch and have tea and lemonade. We laughed and enjoyed life. Our friendship was not just one big thing, it was a lot of little things that made us friends. Now your voice is silent, but we can still hear you loudly because your friendship is hidden in our hearts. We miss you now and our hearts are heavy. But you will always be with us, our friend and my sister forever. Love Victoria and Sylvester Thomas To Momma Toni, Growing up, we could look at you and see consistency, work ethic, impeccable, and love. You were always giving and helping somebody when they needed it most. You watched us grow up as pre-teens into adulthood and never hesitated to give us sound advice. You did an amazing job setting that example for us; and don’t worry, we will take care of our sister. See you later for now. With Love, Mona, Vona, and Cookie
Family... where life begins and love never ends.
Hey Granny, I am so proud of you for everything you have accomplished in your life, and I am even more proud to be your grandson. I want to thank you for being someone to me that never judged and always seemed to know exactly what to do in situations that I seemed like I couldn’t get out of on my own. I don’t know if I made it clear enough, but I needed you more than anyone else in those moments. You never hesitated to help me realize that my mistakes do not define who I am, but rather they are tools to guide me to who I want to be. The way you went about doing that was… passionate- but it has helped to shape me into someone that I can look into the mirror and be proud of. I had an interesting time trying to figure out my own identity, but with you and God by my side I knew that the journey to doing that didn’t have to be one of fear. I’m going to miss the way you used to scream, “Heyyyyy grandsonnnnn!” Every time we got on the phone or saw each other’s faces. I’m going to miss the homemade yeast rolls only you seem to know how to make. I’m going to miss the little flick of the wrist you did every time you didn’t care about the little inconveniences in life because nothing could hold you back. I’m going to miss you stealing my bacon every time we went out to breakfast. I’m even going to miss how you used to hold my arm while we walked down the road even thought you knew it embarrassed me. After a while, I began to embrace it. I realized that you were just so proud of the man I was becoming, and that sense of pride you had was a feeling that could only be created by a grandmother’s love. The best grandmother’s love. I promise to continue to keep God first, and to always answer my phone calls! TeeTee and Uncle T have so much support and will always be taken care of. I miss you, I adore you, and I love you. I’ll be seeing you Granny. I’m with you always. Love, Eric Hey Granny, I just want to say thank you for loving me and sharing your wisdom as I navigated life. You’ve taught me so much over the years - a few lessons more intense than others. Like..…Chef Boyardee is not real food, which meant I needed to cook a lot more than I wanted! And how important it is to have an identity outside of being a wife and mother. So I had to be intentional about my own self-discovery. I love that you accepted my husband and children as your own. But most importantly, you helped to fill a void as a maternal figure in the absence of my mom. Your love for my family is so deeply appreciated, and we are forever connected! You are missed, and you are loved. And I promise to take care of Nikki and be the best little sister she’s ever had! Love, Sherana
My Toni Always speaking truthfully No fluff Just real talk, That always brought a smile to my face Is there a better way Toni’s voice: “Chile Please!” I don’t think so Thank you Toni, For being you Until we meet again! I love you...Penney Toni How do I describe a friendship that extended over decades? We were so very different, polar opposites. You were outgoing, talkative and always ready to take on any challenge and we shared so many adventures. I remember the time we went to see R.W. Shambach and experienced his version of anointing with oil. With sleeves rolled up, dipping both hand in a bucket filled with oil up to his elbows, he slapped both of us on the forehead. We laughed hysterically as we stumbled all the way down the ramp, blinded by the oil because we couldn’t see. I can still see that scene and smile when I think about times like that. At Monument we were always getting scolded by Sister Davis and if she didn’t see you with me she, and others would say, “Where’s Toni?” People always expected to see us together. We shared everything, good times, hard times, pregnancies, family connections and babies. Our friendship was full of discussions and arguments, as sisters sometimes do, but we always managed to come back together and figure it out. We knew God put our connection together and we relied and needed each other. I thought this would be easy but had no idea how hard losing you in this life would be. You came into my life 48 years ago and I am better for having known you, better for loving you as a sister and a dear friend. Thank you for always being there when it mattered, really mattered. I am so grateful I was able to be with you during this last challenge and so very grateful to God for allowing me the opportunities to serve you, as you have served me and countless other. I will not grieve as those that have no hope, but look forward to seeing you again my friend. Lovingly your sister and friend, Diana
MY FRIEND TONI~ I can’t forget the joyful gleeAs Toni playfully mimicked me- “Honey I’m home!” She announced to my husband, Lee, As we returned from a shopping spree. Toni and I met in the mid-80’s as members of Abundant Life Teaching Center, under the leadership of Pastor James Watson. Our friendship bonded quickly. Through the years, and in many special ways, Toni clearly demonstrated a deep, Godly-commitment to helping people - her “joy-spot.” When I moved from Chicago, Toni pulled together the manpower I needed to pack my van. In addition, she spearheaded a surprise going-away party! I am grateful for the love we shared. We engaged in seemingly endless discussions about the ups and downs of life, what it means to serve God, and to be in the center of His will. It seemed like no topic was off-limit. Most often our conversations concluded with words of encouragement, reminding each other that God’s Word has final authority. I am grateful for all the fun we had. Toni and Nikki became part of my family. They attended many events with us, in places like Florida and Georgia. Also, they visited in our home in California and Nevada. It was particularly important to Toni that we connected during our shared birthday month – August. Our times together were full of hilarious and/or somber topics. I smile as I remember Toni’s courage and quick wit. I will definitely miss her. Toni left history and moved into eternity to say, “Heavenly Father...I’m home!” Dolores Gaunty-Porter, PhD It’s NOT good bye its see you later. WE ARE so glad WE WERE able to spend time with you before you went on this eternal vacation.The Memories have of you. What joy it must be to see and be in presence of our King. We’ve laughed we traveled we studied and cried together. You have been an amazing gift. What a Family Reunion you are experiencing. The smiles you saw as you entered in . We all will be reuniited at a blink of an eye. We will miss you Truly Love you! Pastor K and Lady T
When asked to speak or write about my friend Donetta Toni Diggs, I was wondering what I should say and how far back I should go. Our relationship began over forty years ago in church. Our children became immediate friends, while attending children’s church and have remain so until now. While pondering on my assignment I thought about who she really was. Toni was Strong: in that she could stand her ground against anything or anyone that would try to shake her convictions in what she thought was right. Independent: she never needed a crowd to speak her mind to whoever would listen, whether they agreed with her or not. Classy: through the years Toni was always well dressed and stylish in her appearance from head to toe. Nurturing: Toni was truly a mother of Zion. She cared for her own three children in seeing that they lacked for nothing they needed and even wanted in life. She was proud of the adults they later became, all a testament to the time and sacrifices she made on their behalf. She even took the time to be a mother and youth leader to other children of the church teaching them about Jesus the same as her own. Caring: In her profession as a nurse, it gave her the opportunity to show her true character in the care and concern for others she truly possessed. Through the years Toni and I have shared various experiences where we were there for one another, never imagining how soon the day would come, that God would call one of us home. I thank God for having known Toni. Sharing our children’s lives, meals, conversations, disagreements, shopping trips and vacations. My friend, your presence will be missed but I know your pain has ended and you are now safe, “In the Arms of Jesus.” Your Sister and Friend, Yohannah Watson Our Dearest Toni, We will forever cherish our many memories of you in our hearts. From dinners, coffee chats, holidays, shopping trips, church and vacations, you have always been an integral part of our lives. You even stated, “Y’all are together because of me!!!” Rest well now, and know that we truly love and miss you! Pernell & Angela Robinson NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN
REPAST REPAST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SERVICE Holy Temple Cathedral 15912 Lincoln Ave, • Harvey, IL ~ IN APPRECIATION ~ We would like to express our sincere appreciation for your love through prayers, phone calls, texts, gifts and visits. We feel truly blessed to have family and friends like you to help us celebrate our gift from God, Donetta “Toni” Diggs. She will be truly missed but her spirit will live on forever through us! ARRANGEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO: W.W. Holt Funeral Home 175 W. 159th Street Harvey IL . 60426 (708-331-0310 THANK YOU I just wanted to say thank you one more time. Thank you for allowing me to touch your life with the love God gave me to share with all who were willing to receive. I’ve experienced the real joy that comes from giving and you’ve shown me in many ways that my giving was not in vain. Just as you say I’ve touched your life, always remember that you’ve touched mine. And I just wanted to say thank you one more time. With All my Love, Toni ©Vashtis