Jesus Loves You—and so does diane
Submitted by Reese Borchert
Photographed by Allison Martinet
A line stretches out the cafeteria door for lunch, and diane gray (who requested that her name not be capitalized) recognizes most students by name. Scanning George Fox University (GFU) IDs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday, this Café Bon Appétit worker embodies the university’s “Be Known” promise.
gray joined Café Bon Appétit in 2021 after a long personal journey that included caring for her developmentally delayed daughter until her passing, and coping with the loss of two of her biological sons to health complications. Her life took another turn when, after a traumatic incident where someone attempted to attack her through her car window, she developed agoraphobia, leading her to stay in her son’s home for five years until she received adequate psychological support and healing. Working at GFU has been a fresh start for her, allowing her the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students' lives.
“Lord, I will follow you,” gray recalls saying when she was accepted to work in GFU’s Canyon Commons for Cafe Bon Appetit, leaving behind her previous career as a registered nurse.
As the eldest child in her family and with her experience as a pediatric nurse, gray has always understood the importance of connecting with younger generations. Thus, she is on a mission to learn students’ names, a goal she takes seriously. “When I work with kids, their name is important to them,” she explains. In her first year, she memorized 200 names, then 250 the following year. This semester, she estimates she has learned 350 names, with hopes to know many more.
But gray does not stop at names; she learns students’ stories. Having struggled with suicidal thoughts following the loss of her children, she wants to ensure no student experiences what she did and is always willing to lend a listening ear and a word of prayer.
“I pray each night for George Fox students. Literally, pray,” she says. gray has also referred students to counseling, taken others out to eat, and took a pair of sisters shopping to help them find gifts to mend their relationship with their estranged parents. She wishes “to encourage students and make them smile," seeking to accomplish this in several ways, whether in the little signs with positive notes by the register, or in her actions. For gray, love is action.
“She absolutely deserves it,” said one student, remarking that students bring her flowers as a thankyou. Known for her kindness, gray is well-regarded by students. Her small notes of encouragement by the register are a familiar, uplifting sight.
In her personal life, gray finds joy in spending Saturdays with her three- and five-year-old granddaughters, happily giving their parents a chance to run errands or enjoy a date. Faith is central to her life; she describes herself as a “Jesus freak kind of person” and reads the Bible and devotions daily.
An avid reader, gray’s love for books began in childhood, and she still fondly recalls her admiration for the poet e. e. cummings, her inspiration for writing her name in lowercase. Her Kindle, with over 400 books, was a constant companion during her years of isolation. She gravitates toward romance, comedy, and personal narratives. When not reading, she enjoys '70s music or songs by Christian artists like Lauren Daigle.
When asked what message she would share with students, gray thoughtfully responded, “Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind—and remember diane loves you too.”