On Thursday August 27, Netje Lee (Smith) Woolbright made a graceful exit to Heaven filled with all the love her heart could hold from the family she loved so dearly.
Netje’s life began in Marshall, Missouri, on September 23, 1938. She was the daughter of Perri and Marjorie (Maurer) Smith, and was raised by her grandparents, Howard and Mabel Maurer. In 1951, she moved to Centralia, Illinois, with her grandma and her brother, Don. She later welcomed her brother, John.
At the age of 16, she fell in love with the boy who would stay with her for the rest of her life. She and Charlie were married for 70 years. Together, they had two daughters, Deb and Dena.
Netje was an extraordinary seamstress, making clothes for many, including her daughters and their Barbies growing up, and was known for her ability to be able to get a stain out of any shirt. She made Mayfete formals from 1968-1982 for over 50 girls, and taught many others how to make the formals as well. She used her seamstress skills working for the Dress Factory for many years, worked at Lincoln Drug, and was the librarian for Central City Grade School. She also played softball, the saxophone, and the violin in her younger years, was an excellent water skier, and made the best crème puffs.
Netje loved the color yellow, working in the yard, and most of all… candy. All of her grandchildren knew not to let Nan hold their candy or their chocolate Easter bunnies for them, as anything she held containing sugar soon disappeared.
Her grandchildren were fortunate to have such a dedicated and loving Nan, as she played games, rode bikes, and played video games with them whenever they asked her to. She knew all about Cabbage Patch Dolls and knew the theme songs to TMNT, Power Rangers, and Dragonball Z.
She then got to love four great-grandchildren, Jace, Ryleigh, Jett, and Zayden. Even in her 70’s and 80’s, she got on the floor and played tractors, dolls, trucks, and cars with them. Her son-in-law, Brad, grandson-in-law, Norman, and granddaughter-in-law, LeAnna, were also simply loved as her own. She loved like a teddy bear and protected like a grizzly, and every person in her family knew she loved them fiercely.
She is survived by her husband, Charles Woolbright, and her daughters, Deb (Brad) Fincher of Morgan Mill, Texas, and Dena Cagle, of Centralia. She is also survived by her three grandchildren, Shandy (Norman) McMillian, of Pinehurst, Texas, Zachary (LeAnna) Cagle, of Centralia, and Tucker Cagle, of Centralia, and by her four great-grandchildren, Jace McMillian, Ryleigh McMillian, and Jett McMillian, all of Pinehurst, Texas, and Zayden Cagle, of Centralia. She is also survived by her brother, John (Barb) Spears.
Funeral Services for Netje Woolbright will be held Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 11:00 am at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home in Centralia. A Visitation will be held Saturday, September 5, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at the funeral home before the time of service. Burial will follow at Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Central City. In honor of Netje’s memory memorial donations may be made to High Point Memory Care. These will be gratefully accepted at Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home located at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, who is honored to be of service to Netje’s family during this time. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Funeral Home’s Facebook page. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Netje Woolbright please visit our Sympathy Store.
