Webster Wood Pickard, Jr.

WEBSTER WOOD PICKARD JR. – Webb Pickard, 85, died peacefully December 22, 2022, surrounded by loving family. He was born March 7, 1937 in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the son of Webster Wood Pickard Sr. and Sarah Elizabeth Pylant Pickard.

Webb graduated high school from Harding Academy in Searcy, Arkansas in 1955. He then attended David Lipscomb College and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in History. He also attended Vanderbilt Law School. In 1959 he married the love of his life, Gwendolyn Thurman Pickard of Nashville. In 1972 he founded Webb Pickard Insurance, now Webb Pickard Insurance & Investment Services, Inc. (WPI). He loved his business and faithfully served his clients. This year WPI celebrates 50 years, continuing the well-known legacy of service that Webb began so many years ago.

Webb was a member of LaVergne Church of Christ for 50 years. He loved music and periodically led congregational singing with his strong tenor, particularly enjoying songs about Jesus’ powerful love and forgiveness. Being an avid reader, he amassed a large collection of church history books, many about the Restoration church period. In addition, Webb was fiercely loyal to friends and family whom he loved dearly. The family is especially appreciative to Karen Shelton for her love and caring provided to Webb and Gwen during the period of his declining health.

Along with his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Randall Pylant Pickard. Surviving are his brother, Kenneth Glenn Pickard and wife, Faye, of Cataula, Georgia; and his sister, Anne Elizabeth Pickard Avila, and husband, Mario, of Boca Raton, Florida. Webb is also survived by his beloved wife, Gwendolyn Thurman Pickard; his son, John Webster Pickard and his wife, Lisa, of Smyrna, Tennessee; daughter, Elizabeth Pickard Shoemaker and her husband, David, of Germantown, Tennessee; and nine grandchildren, Keith Pickard and wife, Anna; Kayla Pickard Houston and husband, Joshua; Grant Pickard; Joshua Shoemaker and wife, Marissa; Catie Shoemaker Jackson and husband, Koby; Anna Shoemaker; Luke Shoemaker; Samuel Shoemaker; and Eli Shoemaker; and finally, Webb is survived by two beautiful great grandchildren: Gretchen Sophia Shoemaker and Paul Titus Pickard.

Visitation for Webb will be held from 11:00 AM– 1:00 PM Tuesday, December 27, at LaVergne Church of Christ, 244 Old Nashville Highway, LaVergne, Tennessee, with funeral services beginning at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow at Roselawn Funeral Home, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Active pallbearers include six grandsons, two grandson-in-laws and the honorary pallbearers are the elders and deacons of LaVergne Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro and LaVergne Church of Christ.