Roberta Webb
MARCH 6, 1927 – JUNE 12, 2015
Roberta Hayes Webb was born in Burdine, Kentucky in 1927, to Nettie Lipps Hayes and Augustus Hayes. Roberta passed from this earth on June 12, 2015, and joins her husband, Dr. James B Webb (Jim), where they will view beautiful sunsets and moon rises forever. Roberta or "Bert" as she is known, was one of six children, five sisters and one brother. She attended high school in Jenkins, Kentucky and graduated in 1945. After high school, Roberta spent a brief stint in Oak Ridge, TN as a lab technician on the team that developed the atomic bomb. In 1949, she completed a degree in psychiatric nursing at Knoxville General Hospital. After leaving Knoxville, Bert and Jim lived in Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina. In 1958 ,Bert and family moved to Ottumwa, Iowa. She was involved in PEO and the Junior League. Most of her time was, as always, devoted to her family. Her children remember early morning swim workouts and swim meets every weekend with Bert hauling a station wagon load of kids all over the state. Winters were wet and cold, but Bert never complained when everyone tracked snow in the house or left ice skates in the hall. From the beginning, Bert made sure her kids understood responsibility, keeping your word, and the value of a job well done. She also loved each of her children unconditionally. In 1967, Bert and Jim moved the family from Iowa to Lubbock, Texas. Bert saw all four kids finish school and go on to college and post graduate work. She was always her kids greatest supporter. Until the day she died, a success or accomplishment by one of her kids or grandkids was sweetest when shared with Mamaw. In 2008, when Roberta was 80, her granddaughters Caroline and Whitney took her to Ireland. They kissed the Blarney Stone, viewed beautiful cliffs, and made memories for a lifetime. Mamaw was always ready for the next big adventure. The latter part of Bert's life was spent on a ranch close to the White River Dam. There, she and Jim built an underground home, planted a pecan orchard, and raised a few cattle. She thought nothing of killing rattlesnakes with a hoe, shooting porcupines and raccoons out of her trees, or plotting to trap wild hogs. She also made the ranch "home" to her children and grandchildren. For many years, it was the gathering place for holidays, birthdays, or just to visit and relax. It was while she lived at the ranch that Bert wrote a fictional novel entitled the Dark and Bloody Ground. It is a fictional account of the early discovery and settlement of the uppermost reaches of the Big Sandy River Valley near what is now Jenkins, Kentucky. Most importantly, Bert or Mamaw, was loved unconditionally by her family. Even as she fought her final battle, she maintained her optimism. In the face of a terminal diagnosis, she simply stated it was now time to show the family how to die with dignity and grace…and she did just that. Her last few months at Carillon House were spent still smiling and making the most of her time left. The family wishes to express to the Carillon House our deepest gratitude and thanks. The love and care shown to our mother was simply incredible, and we will be forever grateful. The family who will carry on Bert's wonderful optimism and love of life include daughter Connie Wharton(Larry) of Lubbock, sons Dr.Edwin Webb(Lorraine) of Georgetown, Dr. Robert Webb (Jackie),of Smithsburg, Maryland, and James Allen Webb. Grandchildren include Dr. Whitney Wharton of Atlanta, Ga., Caroline Prescott (James), of Houston, Texas, Kaitlin Webb of Georgetown, and Joshua Shaun, William, and Joseph , all of Smithsburg, Maryland. Bert also treasured her two great granddaughters, Scarlett Hayes Prescott and Gwendolyn Vail of Houston. While she died just before her third great grandchild, Kate Wharton Prescott was born, the family will make sure "mamaw" is known to her. Her surviving sister, Donna Matherly, lives in Virginia.