Nellie Webb Webb
Nellie Webb Webb was called to be with her beloved Lord and husband on Thursday, November 27, 2014.
The memorial service will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, N.C. The family will receive friends Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the home.
Nell was born September 2, 1918 in Pinetops, N.C. to John Thomas and Lillina Gardner Webb. She and her brother, Lester, were raised on a farm in a loving and Christian home. She graduated from South Edgecombe High School and was the first in her family to attend college, at East Carolina Teachers College, now East Carolina University, receiving a degree in Teaching and Education in 1939. After graduation, she married her childhood sweetheart, James Fred Webb, Jr. Their early years of marriage were interrupted by World War II, in which her husband served as Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army. They moved to Elizabeth City for five years before permanently locating in Greenville in 1952.
Nell was passionately involved in many community and regional activities and organizations. She enjoyed memberships in the Sans Souci Book Club, The German Club, Greenville Golf and Country Club, Brook Valley Country Club, the Coral Bay Club and was a founding member of Women for Women in Greenville. One of her great loves was the Greenville Museum of Art, where she served on the Board of Trustees for many years and as president for three years. Because of her efforts and devotion, a new education building was added and is named in her honor.
Nell dearly loved her church, First Presbyterian Church, serving as Deacon, Elder and President of the Women of the Church. A devoted Circle member, she baked Communion bread for many years. She was Chairman of the Membership Care Committee, making countless calls and giving her famous “rum cakes’ to anyone sick or in need of support. She served on the Pastor Search Committee, co-chaired the Building Fund Drive, and endowed a fund to support the maintenance and ongoing renovation of her church. Nell was given the Honorary Lifetime Membership Award for her many years of faithful and active service. She was Chairman of the Personal Faith and Family Life of the Women of the Church of The Albemarle Presbytery. She and her husband helped start a Sunday School Class which still bears the name, Harvey-Webb, in honor of her husband, who taught the class for many years. Nell’s “of course we can do it” brand of enthusiastic leadership inspired young and old alike to tackle any challenge. She possessed a gift to galvanize participation with her special flair and sense of fun, making everyone feel necessary and important.
To her family, she was their “guardian angel”, enriching their lives with her prayers, commitment and unyielding support. She was always teaching them to find blessings and little miracles in life’s challenges and in their everyday lives. Her incredible Christian faith and devotion to others was an inspiration to her family.
Nell was a beloved friend, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother extraordinaire. Her competitive spirit, love of art, antiques, music, parties, her sense of adventure, her smile, her wit, and contagious laughter were superceded only by her love for the Lord. She possessed a gentle, sweet, caring, compassionate spirit, always treating everyone she met with dignity and respect. She was always giving. She will forever be in our hearts. Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise and call her blessed.”
Preceding Nell in death were her parents, her brother, Lester, and her beloved husband of 68 years, Fred.
She is survived by her son, Dr. Thomas Frederick Webb and wife, Karen Farless Webb of Greenville; daughters, Judith Webb Lanier and husband Jean Edmond Lanier of Paris, France; Bonnie Webb Gaylord and husband Richard Warren Gaylord, Jr. of Raleigh; Deborah Webb Simpson and husband Evander Samuel Simpson III of Raleigh; eight granddaughters, Caroline Bernhardt-Lanier and husband Jason; Nellie France Lanier Harasimowicz and husband Jim; Elizabeth Webb Wells and husband Vin; Blair Webb Hogan and husband Joe; Laura Webb Covington and husband Thomas; Blake Simpson Fricks and husband Wesley; Natalie Simpson Owen and husband John; Chase Simpson Felmet and husband Kyle; seven grandsons, Richard Warren Gaylord, III and wife Katie; Todd Webb Gaylord and wife Shannon; Bonner Gardner Gaylord and wife Ashley; Brittain Dawson Gaylord and wife Elizabeth; Patrick Jean Edmond Lanier and wife Jenna: James Frederick Webb Simpson and wife Dowd; and Thomas Frederick Webb, Jr. and wife Taylor; thirteen great grandchildren, Thomas, Nicolas, Alexia and Celine Bernhardt-Lanier; Paulina, Alexander and John Paul Harasimowicz; Benjamin and Anya Lanier; Lulu and Webb Wells; Jack, Liv and Lucy Hogan; Carr Covington; Ren and McKinnon Gaylord; Vail, Mary Haven and Boone Gaylord; Gigi, Demetri and Mont Gaylord: Vej and Sydney Gaylord; Wells and Smith Fricks; Dylan and Lila Davis; James, Willow and Winnie Simpson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fred and Nell Webb Endowment Fund, c/o First Presbyterian Church, 1400 South Elm Street, Greenville, N.C. 27858 or to the Greenville Museum of Art, 802 Evans Street, Greenville, N.C. 27858.
Online condolences can be made at www.wilkerson funeralhome.com.
This story was originally published November 29, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Nellie Webb Webb."