Retired Lawrenceville attorney Jones Webb entered eternal rest on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at his home surrounded by loved ones. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Marion Allison Webb, who passed away on Dec. 9, 2016.
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Jones’ request was that his obituary be a humble expression of his character, and so it begins. Jones Webb never liked his name because he didn’t have a middle name and people were always calling him “Webb Jones.” He was a faithful son and brother, a small-town lawyer, loving husband and father, a family man, and friend to all.
Born in the hills of east Tennessee, from an early age, Jones always loved going to the mountains to hunt, fish, camp and hike especially in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee where he and his ancestors were born. As a young boy, he dreamed of being a flying ace and having a military career which he achieved both dreams later in life by flying antique airplanes into his 80s and serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, the U.S. Army and finishing as a commander in the Naval Reserves. He never had the chance to fight in a war, but he served his beloved country well.
He loved the Wild West and really, as Toby Keith’s song says, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” Instead, as an adult he was an avid horseman, teaching his two children to love horses and Western riding, riding out West with the Round Up Riders of the Rockies for 25 years and taking numerous weeklong western horseback adventures in Wyoming and Montana with his local friends lucky enough to be invited to go until he was 91 years old. He sold his last two horses at age 93.
He learned about Jesus from his parents’ dedication to his Christian upbringing. He learned from his father-in-law how to be a good lawyer and how to be civic-minded, helping his community in Lawrenceville and Gwinnett County in many ways. He loved to travel and his favorite way to see a new city, be it in the U.S. or abroad, was to experience it firsthand as the locals would. He treasured his old friends but loved meeting new ones. He literally made friends wherever he went!
He loved his Waffle House and Cup and Saucer Saturday breakfasts with Al Cofer and “the boys.” His collections of longtime legal clients endeared him to so many people in Gwinnett. He loved his church and he loved God. He loved Dixieland Jazz, the Kappa Alpha Order, and his Southern heritage. He loved Young Harris College, where his father and father-in-law attended, where he served on the Board of Trustees for 35 years. He loved the Salvation Army where he served on the board and rang the bell for the organization at Christmas every year to help those in need.
His favorite Bible verse passed down by his grandfather was “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8.)
In the end he checked off his bucket list and all his lifetime goals. He was a man of humble character who achieved much in his 94 years. But in the eyes of his family and many others, Jones Webb was larger than life. The firm grip of his exuberant handshake could put an unwary man to his knees and his hugs squeezed so tightly that small folks feared for their ribs. He loved people and he loved life, to those who knew him he was a legend in his own time. A true Southern gentleman not to be forgotten. He finished his life Olympic Strong claiming perfect peace and contentment in his last days of failing health. Who could ask for more!
Jones Webb was born weighing in at 11 pounds on Jan. 7, 1928, in Etowah, Tennessee. Even late in life he was proud to say that as a young teenager he was the youngest member of his local Tennessee State Guard. His mother had to remake his assigned wool uniform to fit him because he was so small. For high school he attended and graduated from the Tennessee Military Academy in 1945. He was never called to serve in World War III, but he enlisted and served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1946 through 1950.
He received a B.A. from the University of Tennessee in 1949 and graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1953 receiving a J.D. He served active duty in the U.S. Army from 1950-1954. In 1951, Jones married the love of his life, Marion Allison, the daughter of Marvin A. and Gertrude Stovall Allison.
In 1953, Jones joined his father-in-law’s firm Allison & Pittard in the practice of law. When Mr. Allison died in 1959, Jones asked his childhood friend W. Howard Fowler to practice with him, forming Webb & Fowler for some 29 years. They added William G. Tanner then forming Webb, Fowler and Tanner. Numerous successful attorneys who are still in practice today began their careers with Jones Webb’s law firm including, but not limited to, Mike Tennant, Gerald Davidson, Mike McGarity, Tom Anderson, Larry Edmondson, Andrew Mertz, Tony Powell, Jack Wilson and Nathan Powell.
Jones Webb was known and respected in the legal community for his knowledge, experience, and leadership. In the 1950s, as general counsel for Georgia Power Company, Jones helped put in place the utility infrastructure that continues to fuel the growth of Gwinnett County. He also served as counsel for Georgia Transmission. In the 1960s, Mr. Webb served as general counsel for the Gwinnett County Board of Education. He served as president of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce in 1972 and as an officer or president of many of the organizations that were responsible for the rapid growth of Gwinnett County, Georgia, and the City of Lawrenceville as we see it today. He was licensed in the State of Georgia in 1953 and was a member of the Georgia Bar with 69 years of experience when he retired from Webb, Tanner and Powell at the age of 90 in 2018. He was a member of the Gwinnett County and American Bar Associations, State Bar of Georgia (Member of Board of Governors 1977-1982), Lawyers Club of Atlanta, National Association of College and University Attorneys, and member and past president of the Old War Horse Club.
Jones was an active and faithful member of the Gwinnett Rotary Club, past Board member of the Lanier Regional Library, Lawrenceville Lions Club, Past President, former director for Jackson EMC, first Chairman of Gwinnett County Airport Authority, Lifetime member of the Salvation Army, Lawrenceville and Advisory Board, member of Silver Wing Fraternity, Lawrenceville Masonic Lodge 131 (50 years), Royal Arch Masons, No. 48, Knights Templar, Commandery No. 31 and Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 690.
Jones Webb’s highest honors include 2002 Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year and the 2014 Salvation Army William Booth Award which is their highest civilian award given. “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:23).
His grandchildren and great grandchildren gave him great enjoyment during his later years of life. Jones was truly a Southern gentleman and will be deeply missed by his adoring family, friends, and colleagues. Jones was a devoted member of Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church, where he served as Trustee. The legacy of Jones Webb will be one of strong community involvement, devotion to family, and making sure the residents of Gwinnett County, who were less than fortunate could grow and achieve more in their lifetime.
Jones was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Reuel R. and Polly Gennoe Webb of Etowah, Tennessee. Those left to cherish his memory: His loving daughter, Julia Webb Davis and her husband, Clayton of Duluth, Georgia; son Marvin Webb and wife, Stacy of Signal Mountain, Tennessee; his sister, Polly Ellen Webb White of Dyersburg, Tennessee; six grandchildren, Kathleen Davis Weldon and her husband ,Wade of Brookhaven, Georgia; Piper Davis Neblett and her husband, Edward of Atlanta, Georgia; Alexander Webb Davis of Brooklyn, New York, Taylor Webb Jones and her husband, Scott of Decatur, Georgia and Graeme Stovall Webb and his wife, Laurie of Johns Island, South Carolina; four great grandchildren, Marion Elise and Brooks Weldon, Lisle Webb and brother, Bennett Armstrong; nieces, Nancy Bryan and her husband, John of Arlington, Virginia, Marion Tilson and her husband, Martin of Atlanta, Georgia; Sally Veith of Alexandria, Virginia; nephew, Dr. Pierce White and his wife, Amy of Dyersburg, Tennessee, and precious grandnieces and great nephews and other family members. The family would like to acknowledge with love and thanks Jones’ devoted companion, Jane Kennedy Eikenberry, and his adoring Australian shepherd, Zoey. Special thanks to Pat Holland for the compassionate care given to Jones’ daily life, even to the end. Also, sincere appreciation to Nana, Jenice, Faustina, Hyacinth, Jama, Kay, Todd, Barbara, and Inspire Hospice. All are true angels on Earth!
A memorial service celebrating the life of Jones Webb will be conducted on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville with the Rev. Adam Hilderbrandt officiating. Naval military honors will be rendered at the end of the service in the church. A reception will follow in the Church Fellowship Hall.
The family will also receive friends on Saturday, March 5 from 2 p.m. to 2 p.m.. at Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chapel. A private family interment will be held on Sunday, March 6 at 11:30 a.m. at Shadowlawn Cemetery in Lawrenceville.
Those desiring may make memorial gifts to First UMC of Lawrenceville, P.O. Box 2127, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 (770-963-0386) or the Salvation Army Gwinnett Corp, 3455 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Lawrenceville, GA 30044 (770-724-1660) or Young Harris College, P.O. Box 275, Young Harris, GA 30582-0275 in memory of Jones Webb. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, Lawrenceville Chapel, 120 Scenic Hwy., Lawrenceville, GA 30046 (770-963-2411) has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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