By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | This past week we saw the passing of a great force for good in our community, in the death of Marion Allison Webb, 88, of Lawrenceville.
Marion was active in the media, in her community, and in many good causes. She is remembered fondly by many in Gwinnett County. She zealously went about her many causes with such vigor and charm, often enticing others to join in with her in community efforts.
We met Marion long before we came to Gwinnett County. Upon graduation from Wesleyan College in 1949, Marion’s father Attorney Marvin Allison awarded her the editorship of the weekly legal organ of the county, the Lawrenceville News-Herald. From the very beginning of her career, she was a leader in Lawrenceville and Gwinnett activities on many fronts.
Our first meeting was at Jekyll Island, Ga., where Georgia newspaper-people gathered in convention during the 60-70s-80s. For years she was always in attendance, enjoying the activities of the Fourth Estate, often leading panels herself, and always especially enjoying the social life. She also represented the state at national newspaper events.
Mr. Allison had purchased the Lawrenceville News-Herald in 1941, then in 1944 purchased the Gwinnett Journal and consolidated it into the News-Herald. After Mr. Allison’s death in 1959, his widow and Marion, now Mrs. Jones Webb, became the publishers. The two sold the weekly to Robert Fowler in 1964, and in 1965 the News-Herald became Gwinnett Daily News. Though Marion was no longer the part owner of a newspaper, she remained engaged in Georgia Press Association activities for many years.
Marion Webb
Marion had so many interests. One was the arts in Gwinnett. She was a charter member of the Gwinnett Arts Council. That first year will be remembered by the Council bringing in for a week a young artist, Eliot Fisk, a classical guitarist and Yale graduate, and last private student of Andres Segovia, to present concerts throughout the community. The Webbs also opened their home to Fisk while he was in Gwinnett. Today he is considered one of the masters of the classical guitar, and appeared on National Public Radio just last week.
Gwinnett’s first fundraising gala was Marion’s idea, the Crusader’s Ball for the American Cancer Society. Her daughter, Julia Davis, remembers that the first ball at the Peachtree World of Tennis raised $5,000, “and we thought that was a big amount.” In those days, the gala attracted big-name Hollywood stars such as Linda Day George and Mike Conners (Mannix). Julia recalls: “Mother had us dressed up in long gowns to act as hostesses. It was fun!” Marion continued to chair this event for more than 15 years, and the last big ball raised many thousands, instead of hundreds.
The list of organizations to which she belonged and often led include the Lawrenceville Woman’s Club; a Teen Canteen; the County Seat Players; Choral Guild; Atlanta Opera Board; the Georgia Cancer Board; and certainly, many others.
Marion met a young lawyer working with her father’s firm named Jones Webb. They were married in 1951, and this year observed their 65th wedding anniversary. The funeral for Marion will be Thursday, December 15, at 1:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville. Because of construction activity at the church, a reception will be held following the services at the Aurora Theatre. How fitting is that? You see, Marion and Jones were married in that building when it was the First Methodist Church of Lawrenceville.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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