Caroline Sue Andrews Woodburn

Caroline Andrews Woodburn, former Potter County District Clerk, loving mother of three, grandmother of six, devoted friend to many, and against all odds, astonishingly patient wife of Doug Woodburn, died Tuesday, May 27, 2025, surrounded by family.

In 2001, after the incumbent district clerk stepped down for health reasons, every Potter County district judge surrounded Caroline at an event saying they wanted her to fill the unexpired term. Flattered, but ever humble, Caroline politely declined, and then immediately went home where she spent all night polishing her resume and qualifications for the position.

Caroline promptly submitted her resume, at which time the court’s administrative judge replied, “We don’t need your resume, we already asked if you wanted the damn job.”

Once appointed, Caroline quickly realized she inherited an office in disarray, and reinventing it was one of her proudest achievements. She updated the technology, improved the jury selection process, and created a strong culture of customer service. Under Caroline’s leadership, people would smile when they went to the district clerk office — even for jury duty. The turnaround led Caroline to being recognized as 2016 District Clerk of the Year in Texas. She retired from that role in 2017, leaving big shoes to fill (Caroline was quite tall, in fact, Dougie-Suave told her she was “an Amazon” the first time they met on a blind date in college).

Caroline Sue Andrews was born in Amarillo, Texas, on September 17, 1948, to Omega & Bruce “Dale” Andrews. After graduating from Tascosa High School, Caroline attended Texas Tech University where she graduated with honors earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. That particular degree served her well during her 52-year marriage to Doug Woodburn.

Though she never sought the limelight, leadership and success came naturally to Caroline. In 1993, she was among the community leaders that merged the Rape Crisis/ Domestic Violence Center with the Family Guidance Center to form Family Support Services. After the merger, Caroline served as interim CEO helping to establish it as the Panhandle’s leading resource for families in crisis.

Always dedicated to her community, Caroline volunteered with The Junior League, Amarillo Art Center (the predecessor of the AMOA), Lone Star Ballet, and Ronald McDonald House, among others. To honor her community service, The Junior League of Amarillo named her its 2017 Outstanding Sustainer Member.

Above all, Caroline was most proud of her three children, each of whom have gone on to be loving parents and each successful in their own right. As a parent, Caroline was the disciplinarian and used to say about herself, “Doug was the buddy, but I was the b****.” Her kids didn’t see it that way. They saw a mother who was a strong woman, their biggest advocate, and a role model for how to be an upstanding, hardworking, caring person of integrity.

Caroline’s greatest joy in life was being Mimi to her six beautiful grandchildren. She was their go-to person, home base, and warm embrace. She loved to play with them, read to them, share her love of music with them, and buy all of them matching pajamas, always including a matching set for herself (the red silk ones were her favorite).

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Caroline had 20 best friends, who shall not be named here because another 50 friends would be upset they didn’t make the “best” list. Caroline’s friends knew her for her political acumen, conspiracy theories, being quick to write a sternly worded letter to any elected official she disagreed with, and gift bottles of fancy balsamic vinegar at Christmas (you pour it over cream cheese, add some crackers…chef’s kiss).

However, despite rumors to the contrary, Caroline was far from perfect. A Texas woman through and through, she could be ornery and she had a mischievous streak. On one occasion when Doug was out of town, Caroline rearranged all the furniture promising him a “big surprise” for when he returned home. Doug got home, took one look, got mad, and headed straight to the bedroom…only to discover she repainted it solid red. Caroline was never a fan of Doug’s fashion choices and would often turn to Amazon to buy him new clothes or shoes which he might wear once or twice just to keep the peace.

Art, bridge, and golf were Caroline’s favorite hobbies, and she loved traveling the world with Doug and their friends. She liked cold beer and barbecue, a nice glass of wine with dinner, and you wouldn’t dare touch Caroline’s Drambuie unless you were about to fix her a Rusty Nail.

Throughout her blessed and well-lived life, music was Caroline’s true and constant passion. She played piano beautifully, and in her final days, it was the music that her daughters played for her that made her most comfortable and gave her the greatest peace.

Caroline is survived by her loving husband Doug Woodburn; son Josh Woodburn, his wife Gentry and their daughter Cheyne; daughter Megan Woodburn, her husband Dave Shaw and their sons Jackson, Peyton, and Bennett; daughter Lizzie Smith, her husband Hayes and their daughters Sophia and Sierra; her sisters and their husbands Amy and Alan Chambers, and Donna and Gordon Robinson; her brother-in-law David Woodburn and his wife Alicia; her sister-in-law Shelley Lippincott; and her best dog pal Buddy. Caroline is preceded in death by her parents Dale and Omega Andrews, and brothers-in-law Phillip Woodburn and Sam Lippincott. And somewhere there’s an Amazon driver or two in mourning who no longer have Caroline on their daily route.

Join a celebration of Caroline’s life at First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 28, 2025, immediately followed by a reception for family and friends at the Amarillo National Bank Skyline Room (401 S Taylor Street, 16th Floor, Amarillo TX 79101).

In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Caroline with a donation to the Caroline Andrews Woodburn Endowed Humanities Fund at Amarillo College (Amarillo College Foundation, Box 447, Amarillo, TX 79178). Donations can also be made by calling 806-371-5107.