Gregory George Webster (“Greg”), 67, passed into Glory on February 23, 2024, after a valiant struggle with cancer.
Known for his dry wit, Greg often quipped to new folks he met that he was not born in the United States. Then, after a pause for shock value, he’d clarify that he was born in Washington, D.C. His birth (to Lois Gronert Webster and Philip Maxwell Webster, both now deceased) happened on March 30, 1956, after which Greg spent his growing up years in Atlanta, Georgia, and Greensboro, North Carolina. He earned both a journalism film degree and a Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Georgia, where he met his wife of 43 years, Nancy Elizabeth Stuart Webster.
A year after their June 28, 1980, wedding, Greg and Nancy camped their way across the country to land in Pasadena, California, where Greg received a Master of Theology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. When not studying, the couple camped and hiked in many “out West” parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sequoia, Glacier, and even Banff, Canada, where they traversed a skinny, very steep trail between deep, glacial crevices way too far from civilization. One of their few regrets is having chosen in 1982 to visit Washington State’s Mt. Ranier (which was fogged in) instead of Mt. St. Helen, the volcano site still raw from erupting just two years prior. Greg continued his love for travel, eventually visiting the Lower 48, Belgium, and Israel.
After California, Greg and Nancy returned to Atlanta for seven years, where Greg worked for an advertising agency handling Christian publishing accounts. Then they moved to Brentwood, Tennessee, where Greg worked another seven years for Broadman and Holman Christian Publishers in Nashville. In 1999, they moved their family to the outskirts of Lynnville, Tennessee, finally realizing their dream of living in the country, complete with dairy animals, sheep, chickens, and horses. When he wasn’t rounding up goats and sheep escaped from their fence or helping his homeschooled children figure out a math problem, Greg, a writer extraordinaire, enjoyed writing and editing books for and with many well-known Christian authors. His favorite projects were the books with true stories of Muslims coming to Christ (Dreams and Visions; Standing in the Fire; Women Who Risk) co-written with Tom Doyle, founder of Uncharted Ministries.
Greg loved the Lord and studying not only his Bible, but also the writings of the early Church Fathers. He was a founding member of St. Anna Orthodox Christian Church in Columbia, Tennessee, where he served as the choir director. He was also a master emcee, best exhibited during his tenure as Cubmaster Assistant and then Cubmaster for Cub Scout Troop 747 in Nashville. That skill also helped him in his role as Vice-Chairman and then Chairman of the Giles County (TN) GOP Executive Committee, where he faithfully served his country on the local level.
However, Greg’s Crowning Achievement is found in the eight children and their families he leaves behind. All are faith-filled Jesus-followers; all enjoy fellowshipping with one another; and all are upstanding citizens. And surely Greg’s love for plus quantity and quality time spent with them are why. The children are: Philip Webster (wife Dera, daughter Norah) of Huntsville, AL; David Webster (wife Georgia, daughters Emma and Clara) of Lynnville, TN; Anna Webster Rose (husband Benjamin Jr. “BJ”, daughters Gracie Alice and Naomi, son Nathanael) of Lynnville, TN; Julie Webster Daltorio (husband Anthony “Tony”) of Murfreesboro, TN; Rachel Webster of Murfreesboro, TN; Grace Webster of Lynnville, TN; Lily Webster of Lynnville, TN; and Andrew Webster of Lynnville, TN. Greg’s wisdom, wit, and listening heart will be missed by all.
Greg’s funeral will be held at St. Ignatius Orthodox Christian Church in Franklin, TN on Monday, February 26, 2024, at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior to service. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 25, 2024, from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM at St. Ignatius Orthodox Christian Church. Memorials may be made to St. Anna Orthodox Christian Church (www.stannacolumbia.org) or to the Down Syndrome Association of Middle TN (www.somethingextra.org).
