Few people of such small stature could boast of a mighty reach like Mrs. Barbara Whitley Woodard. Barbara Whitley Woodard, age 75, died peacefully, Saturday morning June 11, 2022 in the SECU Hospice House in Smithfield. She was born January 14, 1947 in Johnston County to the late William Earl and Hazel Phillips Whitley.  An active member of Princeton Church for more than 50 years, Barbara showed her committed to raising up the next generation of the church by laying the foundation for several programs including Girl's Club, Sunday School, Preschool, and Youth Choir. One visit to the church today would confidently remind you of the lasting impact of her love and dedication to the children and families of Johnston County. Just as Barbara invested in her church, she also invested in the greater Princeton community as a teacher's assistance at Princeton Elementary for several years. Her nurturing disposition could not be limited to classrooms or church halls, however. Barbara pursued and received her floriculture degree from Johnston Community College and worked as a floral designer with Carolina Pottery, ministering to customers and helping them to create the sort of warm, inviting, and lovely environments in their own homes that they felt while consulting with Barbara. In her own home, Barbara inspired creativity, practiced patience, and instilled boldness in her grandchildren by spending many an afternoon at the kitchen table doing arts and crafts, teaching too many life lessons to enumerate in just one paragraph.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Monday in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home with the Rev. Matthew Cornett and the Rev. Allen Strickland officiating.  Burial will follow in the Princeton Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. just prior to the service.

Surviving are her devoted husband of 57 years, Harold Woodard; son, Hal Woodard and wife Trisha of Princeton; daughter, Lori McCoy and husband Larry of Princeton; sisters, Faye Rose of Smithfield and Teresa Strickland of Coeur d'Alene, ID; six grandchildren, Haley Phillips and husband James of Sneads Ferry, Drew McCoy and wife Logan of Princeton, Aleena Smith and husband Joshua of Weaverville, Grey McCoy of Austin, TX, Carrie Cox and husband Andrew of Houston, TX and Whitley McCoy of Princeton and four great-grandchildren,  Parker and Mason Phillips and Eli and Sadie Smith.