Faye Nimmo Webb
Published 8:02 pm Saturday, March 2, 2013
March 1, 2013
Faye Nimmo Webb, 91, born in Norfolk and a longtime resident of Suffolk passed away on March 1, 2013, in Suffolk.
She was predeceased by husband Jack Webb Sr. just a month ago, and by brother G. Aubert Nimmo, sisters Valla Nimmo Stallings, Marge Nimmo Kiser, and grandson Joel Hillyer Webb. Mrs. Webb is survived by a brother, Robert Nimmo.
Mrs. Webb died in her Suffolk home surrounded by years of Valentine’s Day cards given her by life-love Jack and kept for remembered love in the home she built with him 50 years ago.
Growing up in Depression-era Suffolk, she met Jack in elementary school and dated him through high school. After graduation from Suffolk High School, she attended Longwood College in Farmville, riding the train to see Jack at Virginia Tech on weekends. She often did his homework as he slept from the rigors of cadet life, and when the war started, she stood in the train aisles as soldiers in the seats rested.
The Webbs married just before Jack left for the Pacific War. Faye stayed in Suffolk to make ready a home, and after the war followed Jack to Bluefield, W.Va., as he began in the insurance profession.
When the U.S. Army called again for Korea, she followed Jack to Kentucky and Florida duty stations. He would go before to an apartment, or army quarters, and she would arrive to make each new place into a home. Along the way, Faye had two sons and a daughter.
Faye and Jack were optimistic entrepreneurs, and they returned to Suffolk in 1957. Jack started Nansemond Insurance Agency, while Faye again made a home, adding a third son. She also added a host of long-term friends and bridge partners, and in the basement of the home, the children and friends gathered, secure in the home Faye guarded.
As faithful Christians, Mr. and Mrs. Webb served West End Baptist Church and its members by sharing personal faith and friendships. Their faith became certainty, and though they knew sorrow they did not know fear.
Faye and Jack loved their beach home in Southern Shores, sitting on the front porch with morning coffee and the paper, swimming with abandon on the noon waves, watching the darkness close and the light come on over the living room bar each night. In retirement, they traveled the world and enjoyed winter stays in Florida with tennis each day.
Mrs. Webb is survived by sons Jack W. Webb Jr. and wife Paula, Joseph N. Webb Sr. and wife Nancy, John B. Webb and partner Bill Capille, and daughter Mary Alice Webb Dorschel and husband Jay, nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
When the grandchildren came, she became “Mammy,” the home became Easter eggs hunts, long Christmas dinners of excited children solemnly placing the angels she made for each one on the tree, the planning spot for beach summers, a feeling of loving expectation each grandchild called “Mammy and Pappy’s house.”
Her Greatest Generation life, service, and love are a pathway the family now works to follow. While Jack Webb built a business, Faye Webb made homes.
The family deeply appreciates the love and care given Mrs. Webb by Cecilia Carson and her “ladies” in the last 15 months of her life. They allowed her the ability to continue to do the things she held dear — go to the Brown Pelican and stay in the home she loved so much.
A celebration of this joyful life will be held Monday, March 4, 2013, at West End Baptist Church, 501 West Washington Street, Suffolk. Visitation will be in the fellowship hall at the church Monday at 12:30 p.m., with the service to begin at 2 p.m. by Dr. Chester Brown in the church sanctuary. The family will receive friends after the burial at the home of Michael and Rebecca Nairn.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Fund of West End Baptist Church. R.W. Baker and Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 West Washington Street, is serving the family. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com.