Dia Bettencourt Stokes, devoted wife of John W. Stokes, died at the couple’s home in Augusta on July 23, 2025. She was 80.

Dia retired in 2001 after a long career in the pharmaceutical industry, finishing as a financial specialist with GlaxoSmithKline. She and John, a former University of North Carolina Health Care System marketing executive, moved to Augusta from Chapel Hill, NC, shortly after their retirements.

Dia’s passions in life were many. She loved big projects, such as designing and supervising construction of the couple’s Savannah River home in Augusta. At the same time, she had a laser-like focus on important, smaller details such as selecting art and acquiring unique objects to accessorize the new home.

Then there were the dogs. She was a relentless dog rescue volunteer, providing temporary foster homes for dogs awaiting adoption and transporting rescued and adopted dogs back and forth across East Georgia and the Carolinas. She was constantly working to train the couple’s dogs, which at one time numbered seven canines.

Dia was also a Master Gardener, taking great satisfaction in landscaping their riverfront property. The plants, flowers and trees she selected and planted more than 20 years ago are now mature, transforming her garden into a horticultural show place. She was among the founders of Augusta’s Soil Sisters garden club and was a frequent volunteer in community beautification projects. In recognition of her work, the University of Georgia Extension Service named her a Lifetime Master Gardener in 2013. She also enjoyed sharing her knowledge as a columnist and feature writer for Georgia Gardener Magazine.

Dia was the daughter of the late Jerome and Lydia Bettencourt of Tybee Island. She was born in Savannah and attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and Savannah High School. She majored in Journalism at the University of Georgia in Athens. In addition to her husband of 49 years, she leaves a daughter, Dia Stokes Kelly (David) of Johns Creek; a son, Richard P. Lee, Jr. of Birmingham, MI; a granddaughter, Lydia Kathleen Kelly of Macon; and a sister, Jeri Bettencourt Arnold (Don) of Alpharetta.

The family will receive family and friends from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 27 at Posey’s Funeral Home in North Augusta, SC. A graveside service will be held Monday, July 28 at noon at Hillcrest Abbey East Cemetery in Savannah, with Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel in charge of arrangements.