William Payne Webb

William Payne Webb, age 87, of Brooksville, Florida passed away on Saturday, September 4, 2021. William was born on July 23, 1934 in Orlando, Florida. He was predeceased by his parents, Hubert Pastell Webb and Ruby Myrtle Webb. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Linda Carol Webb, his sister, Myrtle Ann Webb, his children and their spouses, Shawn (and Ree) Webb, Meghan (and Hans) Teder and Shannon (and Vince) Pons, six grandchildren, Ross Teder, Logan Teder, Camryn Teder, Gillian Pons, Alex Pons and Fallon Pons and three grand dogs, Bobbie, Sammie and Augie Webb. William graduated from Orlando High School in 1952. He attended Orlando Junior College, Stetson University and graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He continued his education at Southern Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky with a Bachelor of Divinity. William heard God’s call into the ministry at a young age. When he was 12 years old, he would tell Bible Stories in his home and at the age of 18, he began pastoring at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Winter Garden, Florida. During his time in seminary, he pastored at Locust Grove Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky. Following his graduation from seminary, he pastored three churches in Central Florida. Again, he felt God’s call, this time, to enter the military (during the Vietnam War). He often said that he thought “it would be easier to fight the enemy than to fight the deacons”! Plus, “after nine years of marriage and three children, a year away from home didn’t seem so bad”! He joined the Army at 32, went Airborne (101st 3-506th Infantry) and found himself in Vietnam, 1968-1969. He served 26 plus years in the Army and lived in several states including ten years in Germany. During his time in the military, he graduated from the Army War College and completed a Master of Divinity and a Master of Science in Education. After retiring from the military, he returned to civilian ministry, serving twelve years at Ridge Manor Baptist Church, Ridge Manor, Florida. Sometime during these years, he wrote two unpublished books. One was entitled “Currahee, A Chaplain’s Diary of Vietnam” and the other was a diary of his life that he wrote for his family entitled “Papa did it!” (an ongoing joke between him and one of his granddaughters). Following his time in Ridge Manor, William was trained as a transition pastor and served as an interim pastor in several churches in his local area. During this time, he also completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Ministry. Due to ill health, he retired a second time in 2019. William was known as a talented speaker and during his ministry he was blessed to be able to perform baptisms in the South China Sea and the Jordan River. William was a good athlete and enjoyed watching college football. He also liked spending time with his family, holding babies, teasing those he loved, making pancakes and biscuits (passing this tradition on to his son and sons-in-law), planning and organizing trips and tours, reading the Bible, writing sermons, church socials and eating, especially ice cream! But mostly his life was one of service - to God, his family and his country. Currahee!!

A funeral service for William Webb will be held on September 16, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Gulf Ridge Park Baptist Church, 20200 Manecke Road, Brooksville, Florida 34601. There will be a Fellowship lunch following the service. The Graveside service, with military honors, will be held at 2:00 PM at The Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102 Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513.