Tj Diaz

After a courageous ten-year battle with stage 4 cancer, TJ (Tamra Jean) Diaz shed her broken body and stepped into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Wednesday, May 11. TJ was born on June 15, 1960 in Clovis, NM to Thomas and Dorothy Wilcox. Although she spent most of her childhood in Hobbs, NM, she loved all things ocean, beach and, especially, all things Hawaii. She inherited a love for adventure, camping and the outdoors from her family, which she shared with her children and anyone who would tag along on her annual "TJ's Camping Trip." As a teenager, she learned to pilot both glider and powered planes and was, at the time, the youngest person in New Mexico to fly solo. After graduating from Hobbs High School, TJ attended New Mexico State University where she met the love of her life, Dennis Diaz, and on December 19, 1981 they married. Together they became missionaries with Campus Crusade for Christ. In 1984 they changed their focus to local church youth ministry. In 1993, they returned to Las Cruces, to serve at Mesilla Park Community (Baptist) Church. While Dennis pastored the church, TJ did everything else - sing, children and youth ministry, greet, janitorial and anything else that needed to be done. Her passion, however, was always working with teenagers. Young people were drawn to her like a magnet, and countless lives have been touched and changed by TJ's love, encouragement, counsel and prayers. As many have said, "Miss TJ is the kindest, nicest, most joyful person I have ever met. When I grow up, I want to be just like her." TJ was, and will forever be, an amazing mother to her three children, Jessica, Ryan and Tiffany. She devoted her life to nurturing, teaching and demonstrating God's love to them - which is now deeply implanted into each of their hearts. Perhaps more than anything else, it was her love for her family and her desire and determination to successfully launch her children into adulthood that drove her to endure painful and exhausting cancer treatments to remain on this earth for eight years longer than she was originally given to live. After witnessing her youngest daughter's graduation from NMSU in a private ceremony at her home, only three days later she passed. Although her fight with cancer was difficult, TJ never complained. She never lived a single day without purpose, a room-brightening smile and a deep joy that infected everyone she came in contact with. Her example has brought hope and strength to many - literally to people all over the world who are suffering their own difficulties - especially those suffering from cancer. TJ's kindness, love, courage and joy cannot be understood apart from her faith in and relationship with Jesus Christ. As a teenager she chose to trust Christ's death on the cross as payment for her sins, and His resurrection from the dead as His promise of eternal life, and made the determined decision to live the rest of her life to thank and honor Him. Which she did. One of the greatest proofs and evidences for a real and loving God, is the real, intimate, daily relationship TJ had with Jesus Christ. She spent her life making God and His love real and visible for others to see. She was "Jesus with skin on." TJ is and will be sorely missed, but her family and friends rejoice that she is has overcome, she has won her battle with cancer, she is now well in heaven with the Jesus she loved and served and with her loved ones who have died in Christ. TJ is survived by her adoring family - husband, Dennis Diaz,; daughter Jessica and her husband DC Dixon; son, Ryan; and daughter Tiffany - all of Las Cruces, NM; mother - Dorothy Wilcox; sister - Tanya; sister -Tina and her husband, Dave Southward; brother - Tommy Wilcox and his soon-to-be wife, Miranda; Niece - Breana Wilcox; Nephews - Mike Southward, Chad Diaz; Pets - her dog, Baby and her duck, Booger. TJ is preceded in death by father - Thomas Wilcox; maternal grandparents - William "Bill" and Ramelle (Mama Mel) Mosely, paternal grandparents - Chandler and Dora "Ova" Wilcox. All are invited to a memorial/celebration service for TJ on Sunday, May 22 at 3:00 pm, in the new home of Mesilla Park Community Church at 1040 El Paseo (the old Kmart building). Attendees are asked to wear brightly colored and/or Hawaiian clothing. In lieu of flowers, it was TJ's desire that contributions be given to the Legacy Building fund of Mesilla Park Community Church to help complete the remodel of the new building. Contributions can be given online at www.getrealchurch.org/tj-legacy).