Diane Woodbury

Diane was born August 9, 1938 to Roscoe (Roc) Loy & Martha Lou S. Loy in Graham, NC. In the following years, she was joined by two younger sisters, Harriet and Rebecca.

Diane attended Alamance County public schools where she excelled in all academic subjects. Reading and studying were a joy to her and she practiced sharing her love of learning by teaching her younger sister.

Diane played basketball, participated in Drama Club and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also won numerous speech contests and spelling competitions.

Her junior year at GHS, Diane was chief marshal at graduation as she maintained the highest grade average.

Her classmates named her “Most Likely To Succeed” and “Most Studious” in the Senior yearbook. Still maintaining her average, Diane addressed the the class of ‘56 as the Valedictorian.

Diane won the National Merit Scholarship to the college of her choice. She chose Duke University where she excelled and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious honor society for scholars.

After graduation, she married Roger William Woodbury of Long Island, NY. She worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Roger and Diane returned to North Carolina after a few years and settled in Siler City, NC., where they both found teaching positions. While teaching, she completed her master’s degree at NC State University.

While living in Siler City, they welcomed their first daughter, Margaret Elizabeth Woodbury.

Job advancement moved them to Raleigh, NC where their family was completed with the arrival of their second daughter, Christine Andrea Woodbury.

Diane returned to teaching English at Carroll Middle School in Raleigh. She retired from Enloe Magnet School and enjoyed entertaining her grandchildren, Leila, Basil, Yasmine, Jenna, Zayd and Nowal, Diane was also thrilled to delight in the company of two great grandsons, Issa and Musa. Diane will be greatly missed by her family, but always touched and remembered by her former students.

The family will receive receive friends on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 11am-1pm at McClure Funeral Service in Graham. A private burial will take place in Flint Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery.

To honor Diane, contributions should be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105