The Episcopal Diocese of Dallas has established the Diane Stanton Award in memory of the extraordinary life and witness of Diane Stanton. This honor will be given annually on EDOD Missions Day to the parish that has shown exceptional work in local and global missions.

Stanton Died June 27, at the age of 73, after a brief battle with lung cancer. She is survived by her husband, the Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton, retired Episcopal Bishop of Dallas; her daughter, Jennifer Stanton Hargrave and husband, Jeffrey, of Dallas, and their children, William, Weston and Evellyn; and her son, Justin M. Stanton and his wife, Elise, of Richmond, Texas, and their children, James, Lizzie and Ella. A memorial service for Stanton was held at Church of the Incarnation and livestreamed in the U.S. and Africa.

The Diane Stanton Award will honor its namesake who brought world missions and evangelism to the forefront of the diocese for decades. Stanton started the first World Missions Commission, led many missions around the world, especially to Uganda and hosted countless visitors and leaders from all corners of the global Anglican Communion. Her life was about mission.

In 1994, the late Archbishop of Uganda, the Most Reverend Livingstone Nkoyoyo, asked Diane to help resettle thousands of Batwa pygmies who had been evicted from their home in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. With courage and faith, Diane agreed to take on this project, and spent 27 years marshalling support for this work that has resulted in the building of schools, an economic development program, an award-winning hospital and nursing school, serving the Batwa people and others in this region. This project expanded beyond Diane’s individual work, becoming truly collaborative in nature. Through divine intervention, Diane became acquainted with Dr. Scott Kellermann, a medical doctor specializing in tropical medicine. Dr. Kellermann, and his wife Carol, witnessed the plight of the Batwas, moved to Bwindi, and founded the Kellermann Foundation.

Stanton served for 12 years as the Executive Director of Uganda Christian University Partners, where she helped develop a highly rated major university located near the capital city of Kampala in Mukono. Ultimately, these experiences paved the way for what would become her life mission, bringing health, education and hope to the people of Uganda.

Her work with the Batwa garnered international recognition. In 2014, Diane received the Women Who Give Hope by Chiapas International. In 2019, Diane received The Archbishop Michael Ramsey Award from Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin, along with the Kellermanns. On June 7, she delighted in news that the Bwindi Community Hospital received the Prince Albert of Monaco prize for “saving patients and the planet.” Her work was never about receiving personal recognition.

Her mission in life was simply to share the love of Jesus Christ with others, including the Batwa people. One of her dear Batwa friends told her that their Batwa legend taught them that they were the forgotten people, but that through the work of Diane and the Kellermann Foundation, they now knew that God did not forget about them after all.

Diane Stanton is an inspiration. Her example will continue to inspire as the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas tells her story and dedicates itself to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. If you would like to donate to the Diane Stanton Award please donate to The Episcopal Diocese of 

Dallas (In the memo write: Diane Stanton Award) and mail to Ticoy Young, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, 5100 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75206.