Diane Makamson

Alisa "Diane" Makamson, 62, of Cleveland passed away Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland. Visitation will be from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, January 9, 2021, at Ray Funeral Home in Cleveland. Masks are required. Funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, followed by burial in North Cleveland Cemetery. Diane was born October 26, 1958, in Magee, MS, to Mary Sullivan Ainsworth and the late William Spurgeon Ainsworth. She had one broth-er, the late William Todd Ainsworth. In March 1980, she married Ken-neth Neal Makamson in Cleveland. She is a 1976 graduate of Greenville Christian School and of Mis-sissippi Delta Junior College in 1978 with a degree in secretarial science. Later that year she began her newspaper career with The Bolivar Com-mercial in Cleveland. While there she was a receptionist, bookkeeper, op-erations manager, and worked in advertising sales. In October 2012, she was named publisher and editor. She continued maintaining the operation after it closed April 2020. She was recently employed as the office manager and Main Street director of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce. She served six years with the Junior Auxiliary of Cleveland and was a life member. During her years with Junior Auxiliary she served on the board, chaired the Public Relations committee for two years; co-chaired the Children's Benefit Ball and chaired both the Auction and Food Commit-tees for the CBB. She was a Cub Scout den leader and soccer coach at the Cleveland Park Commission. She was an active member of the Bayou Academy Pa-trons League serving as president, vice president and treasurer and served on the Crosstie Arts Council Board. She served as chairman of October-fest in 1998 and was co-chair of concessions. She also co-chaired conces-sions for the Italian Festival of Mississippi. She was active in the Chamber of Commerce for many years, serv-ing as president for 2010-2011; vice president of Team Cleveland for 2003-2004; vice president of Community Development for 2008-2009; and vice president of Member Services for 2009-2010. She served on the Chamber Board of Directors and chaired the 2000 Dixie Boys World Series, 2011 Dixie Youth Region 3 World Series and 2012 Dixie Youth O-Zone World Series. In addition, she served as a member of the Economic Development Foundation board and the Team Cleveland board as organization chair-man. She was a member of the Chamber's President's Club and a member of the Mississippi Press Association. From her leadership, she received the Chamber Award in 2007 and 2012 and the President's Award in 2000. Diane is survived by her mother; her husband; sons Jason Myers Makamson (Mary Michael) and Jonathan Reed Makamson (Sarah); and grandchildren Sarah Hardin and William. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Jun-ior Auxiliary of Cleveland, P.O. Box 194, Cleveland, MS 38732

Visitation

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Saturday, January 9, 2021
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Celebration of Life

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm Saturday, January 9, 2021
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Interment

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm Saturday, January 9, 2021
North Cleveland Cemetery North Bolivar Cleveland, Mississippi, United States