Orpha (Bryant) Woodby

With great sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Orpha Bryant Woodby, age 91 of Byrd Branch. Orpha went to her heavenly home Thursday, February 4th, 2021. She was born and raised in the Big Creek Community, which always held a special place in her heart. She was a daughter of the late Dave and Mary Phillips Bryant. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude Woodby; son, James David Woodby; and a special person to the family, Bobby Gunter. Also preceded in death are sisters: Darliskie, Molly, Hettie, Lillie, Julie, Hattie, Lula and Naomi; brothers: Wilce, Arcemus, Eckerd, Bill and Everett.

Orpha loved to garden, she took great joy from canning and caring for her family; always seeing the good in others. She had a wonderful sense of humor, but nothing was more important to her than her seven children. To some, it may seem, that her children took care of her. But until the end, she was making sure that they ate, had enough cover on their beds, and in at night with the doors locked. She was an amazing woman and the true definition of the word mother.

Surviving are her children: Darrell “Tony” Woodby and wife Marina of Spruce Pine, Dennis Woodby, Rose Woodby, Daphny Woodby, Mary Alice Woodby, and Melanie Murphy and husband Max, all of Burnsville; seven grandchildren: Christy Hill (Drew), Cody Woodby, Amanda Woodby, Amy Woodby, Kenneth Woodby (Sarah), Samantha Murphy, and Shane Murphy; three great-grandchildren: Dahlia, Davian and Anniston.

Orpha was retired from Baxter Healthcare; she was also an in-home caregiver.  

Visitation will be held Saturday, February 6th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers. Funeral Services will be held Sunday, February 7th at Big Creek Freewill Baptist Church on Green Mountain at 2:30 p.m. Reverend Tommy Murphy and Kelly Bryant will officiate. Internment will take place after the service in the Adkins Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for memorial donations to be made to Compassionate Care Western North Carolina at 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714 or Gideons International.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Seneker and his staff for their exceptional care of Orpha and also to Compassionate Care Western North Carolina.

Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home is respectfully serving the Woodby family.

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