Phyllis Williams Woodbury, 75, died Tuesday at William Dunlap Hospice Center. She was a teacher for over 30 years starting in Columbus County public school music. She continued her education obtaining her masters degree in English and teaching at Whiteville High School and completing her career in the Wake County School System. She played classical piano and voice while her children were small.

Phyllis also was church pianist and organist at three different churches. Her talent brought much joy to her family and friends. After moving to Wake County, she was active in church and secular music. In addition to her musical skills, she was a published writer, doing both prose and poetry. She was an award winning biographer, writing about many accomplished women of color who were in the arts as well. In 1976, while living in Whiteville, she helped establish the Columbus County Arts Council. Her later years of retirement were spent enjoying her gardening, the company of her husband and visiting with her grandchildren who were her joy until her two beautiful great-granddaughters arrived last year.

She loved to have fun and brought many smiles by her stories she loved to share. Her faith was the cornerstone of her life. Phyllis was always reaching out to students and families in need, and always had time to pray or lend a helping hand. In her last months, she started and ended her day with prayer and reading her beloved Psalms and Proverbs.

Surviving are her husband, Roger Woodbury; son, Greg Wood and wife Shelia of Willow Springs; daughter, Angela Wood Morgan of Greenville, SC; brother, Franklin Williams and wife Shirley of Altoona, PA; grandchildren, Courtney Hausfeld and husband Ryan, Brittany Taylor and husband Dustin, Harrison Morgan and wife Caroline, Lauren Morgan and Meredith Morgan; great-grandchildren, Ellie Hausfeld and Audrey Taylor. She was preceded in death be her son-in-law, John Harrison Morgan, Sr.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 pm Friday, December 18, 2015 at Montlawn Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Montlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:00 -1:00 pm Friday prior to the chapel service.

Online condolences may be shared with the family through this online guestbook.