GATLINBURG, Tenn. - Robert Lee 'Bobby' Webster, Sr. of Gatlinburg, TN (formerly of Vidette, GA) passed away on July 29, 2010 at the age of 74. He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest Lee and Thelma Sturdivant Webster of Vidette, and his brother James Webster of Florence, AZ. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn S. Webster of Gatlinburg and 4 sons, R. L. 'Lee' Webster, Jr. (Gail) of Vidette, GA, Ken Webster (Kristine) of Gatlinburg, Barry Webster (Yoon-Sun) of Germantown, MD, and Terry Parten (Tina) of Gatlinburg. He was affectionately known as 'Big Daddy' by his 12 grandchildren, his two great grandchildren, and by all those that knew and loved him. Until he retired to the mountains he loved, Bobby was a cotton farmer in Georgia for over 40 years and was a longtime member of the Georgia and Tennessee Farm Bureau. He was a major advocate for cotton which included being President of Southern Cotton Growers Association, Secretary of the board for Cotton, Inc., Chairman of the Georgia Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Chairman of the Southeastern Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, Chairman of the Georgia Cotton Commission, on the research advisory board for the College of Agriculture at UGA, served on the Producers Steering Committee of the National Cotton Council and was appointed by President Clinton to serve as a Director on the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. Board. As a local leader in Burke County, GA, he was also a founding Director of Edmund Burke Academy, a county commissioner, and a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner. He was a lifelong Methodist and was a current member of First United Methodist Church in Gatlinburg. For all the people who knew him, his eternal optimism and big smile will always remain a wonderful tribute to the man he was. There will be a memorial service at the Vidette United Methodist Church on Saturday, August 7, 2010, at 3:00pm with Rev. Carter Berkley officiating. Memorials may be made to VUMC, North College Street, Louisville, GA 30434. Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com
The Augusta Chronicle-July 1, 2010
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