Diane Woolard Smith

Diane Woolard Smith passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2025, in Charlotte, NC, of natural causes. Born Judith Diane Woolard on March 23, 1943, in Newport News, VA, as the oldest of four children, Diane grew up in the "Original Washington" and enjoyed spending time at the family cottage on Pungo Creek in nearby Belhaven, NC. She graduated from Elon University and moved to Newport News to teach school. Then moved to Asheville, NC, where she met Glenn Ervin Smith, whom she married in 1969. They moved to Greer, SC, in 1976, where they raised their two boys. Diane returned to teaching in the early 1980s and earned a Master's Degree in 1987. Upon Glenn's retirement in 2005, they moved back to her hometown of Washington, NC. Diane fulfilled a lifelong dream and opened an antique store, Pamlico River Antiques, in downtown Washington. A lover of antiques and collectibles, she enjoyed running the store and interacting with visitors. Indeed, Diane never met a stranger, and she was a lively conversationalist.

Diane was proceeded by her husband, Glenn Ervin Smith; her parents, Robert Frank Woolard and Edna Respess Woolard; a brother, Neil Franklin Woolard; and a brother-in-law, Wayne Thomas Blanks. She is survived by her sister, Loretta Woolard Blanks, and her brother, Jeffrey Thomas Woolard (Kay) of Washington, NC, her sons, Glenn Ervin Smith, Jr. (Molly) of St. Petersburg, FL, and Franklin Woolard Smith (Tanja) of Tega Cay, SC, and her five grandchildren, Brendon, Dominic, Jackson, Katherine, and Maksim.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by clicking here.

SERVICE UPDATE : Due to inclement weather; a Visitation Reception to celebrate Mrs. Smith will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, October 11, located at Joseph B. Paul Jr. Funeral Service, in Washington, NC.

Joseph B. Paul Jr. Funeral Service is honored to assist the Smith family.