Virginia Webb

A memorial service in honor of Virginia Powell Webb of Tyler, Texas will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 1:00 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, Louisiana. The service will be officiated by Dr. John Harry Robson.

Virginia passed away on July 5, 2024, at the age of 95. She was born on September 29, 1928, in Mount Pleasant, Texas to Ola Mae (Duchess) Roach Powell and William Henslee Powell. She grew up in Texas and spent the majority of her youth in Corpus Christi before her family moved to San Antonio. Following her high school graduation from Corpus Christi Senior High School, she attended Baylor University, where she was a member of Athenean Club (now Kappa Kappa Gamma) and Mu Phi Epsilon Music Sorority. She majored in Music Education and minored in Piano, earning her Bachelor of Music in 1949. During Christmas break of her senior year, she met Perry F. Webb, Jr., who was home in San Antonio between semesters from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. After a short courtship and engagement, they were married in October, 1949.

Virginia loved serving the Lord as a minister’s wife and was a true partner with her husband in his Baptist ministerial work for 67 years in Texas, Louisiana, and Georgia. She sang in the choir, taught youth Sunday School classes, led the Women’s Missionary Union and Girls Auxiliary, organized the flower ministry, visited shut-ins, helped plan church social activities, and was always opening the doors to their home for entertaining members of their congregation. She liked to say that hospitality in the home was a way of expressing Christian love and concern.

Her volunteerism extended to community involvement in areas that were her passion. Virginia served as President of the Symphony Auxiliary in Albany, GA and was on the Symphony Auxiliary Board in Natchitoches, LA. She was a member of P.E.O. since 1963 (recognized as a Golden Girl in 2013) and served as President of her Chapters in Natchitoches, Albany, and Baton Rouge. Through National Garden Clubs, Inc. she became an Accredited Judge in 1963 and a Master Flower Show Judge in 1974. In 2019 she was bestowed the status of Master Judge Emeritus. She earned the highest professional degree in the Ikenobo School of Ikebana (Japanese art of floral design) and was a member of Ikenobo International and the Ikenobo Society of Texas. Virginia served as a Trustee for the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, where a scholarship fund was created in her honor. While in Natchitoches she served on the Board of the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, with a special place in her heart for Melrose Plantation. In 2017, Virginia was recognized by the City as a “Natchitoches Treasure”, a group of residents of retirement age who have made a lasting contribution to the community.

Even with all her involvement in church and community activities, time was always prioritized for family. Virginia loved her roles as Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and especially to have become a Great-Grandmother. Not only were family birthdays, accomplishments, and holidays remembered and celebrated with a special flair, but everyday meals became a memorable occasion with her preparation of delicious food and beautiful tablescapes. Food and flowers were her love language.

After the death of her husband, Virginia moved to Tyler to be closer to family. Her love of a traditional worship service, accompanied by beautiful music, led her to membership at Marvin Methodist Church, where she was a member of Pairs and Parents Sunday School Class, and later the Seekers. She visited shut-ins from her Sunday School Class and was known for always bringing her famous Wookie Cookies, as well as small flower arrangements. She continued her involvement in the Tyler community through membership in P.E.O. Chapter BO, District III Judges Council, and Green Acres Garden Club.

Virginia was a Southern lady in dress and manner and was known for her wardrobe of beautiful hats. In her opinion, hats were an everyday accessory and there was no occasion that didn’t call for a hat. She had Hat-itude!

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Perry F. Webb, Jr., and her brother, William Henslee Powell, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Webb Smith; son, Perry F. Webb, III (Kim); grandsons, Walker Smith (Lindsey), Phillip Smith (Amy), Jonathan Webb (Erica), and Tyler Webb (Cara); great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Walker, Jr., William and Evelyn Smith; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be expressed through flowers, donations to the Virginia Webb Scholarship Fund at Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71211, or the charity of your choice.