Obituary - Leland Franklin Webb

Leland Franklin Webb, 91, long-time editor of a once-renowned Baptist missions magazine, died January 8, 2024, following a brief illness. He was a resident of Lakewood retirement center since early 2023. A native of McAlester, OK, Webb served for 32 years – 15 of those years as editor – on the staff of the award-winning The Commission magazine, at one time a publication of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Foreign (now International) Mission Board. While on the magazine staff, he traveled as reporter and photographer to more than 35 countries.

His wife, Geneva, passed away August 30, 2021, three days after their 67th anniversary. He is survived by two children: Kathryn Bradley of Durham, NC, and husband Curt; and Charles F. Webb and wife Jennifer, of Wappingers Falls, NY; seven grandchildren: Anastasia Butcher and husband Jonathan, of Raleigh, NC; Laina Jose and husband Nik, of Jackson, TN; Isaac Webb, of Ivins, UT; Jewel Webb, of New York, NY; Martha Kelly and husband Jimmy, of Louisville, KY; David Bradley and wife Ashley Kelley, of Durham, NC; and Liana Bradley, of Boulder, CO; and six great-grandchildren: Josiah, Lydia, Micah, and Ezra Butcher, Nasya Jose, and Hudson Kelly.

A graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, OK., and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX, with a master of divinity degree, Webb served from 1957-64 as assistant editor of the Baptist Messenger, a weekly publication of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. As a supply preacher, he spoke in hundreds of churches in Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia. He also served a short interim pastorate and led two revival meetings in Oklahoma churches.

Webb was author of two mission study books, How in this World and Cultivating for Tomorrow, and taught these books in numerous churches. Articles by him appeared in several publications, and at one time he served as Oklahoma City correspondent for Religious (now Religion) News Service.

Since 1964 he was an active member of Lakeside Baptist Church, Henrico, where he served as a trustee, deacon, assistant moderator, and for more than 40 years as teacher of a men’s Sunday Bible class.

After retiring from the mission board in 1995, Webb learned to play saxophones (alto, tenor, and baritone) and became a member of several area bands. These included Henrico Concert Band (2001-22), Henrico Community Band (2003-22), Reflections Big Band (2009-22), Hanover Concert Band (2003-16), and Richmond Concert Band (2009-11). In addition, he provided a total of almost 90 solo musical programs in 15 area retirement centers. Also in retirement he contributed more than 3,100 hours as a vo1unteer with Henrico County Police Division, primarily in the fingerprint unit (AFIS). In retirement years he and his wife traveled more than 25,000 miles by car visiting sites in the U.S. and Canada, including national parks and major league baseball parks, and enjoyed six cruises, including visits to several European countries.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Woody’s Funeral Home on Parham Road, where there will be family visitation from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, January 11. Services will be held at Lakeside Baptist Church on Woodman Road at 10 a.m. Friday, January 12, with interment to follow at Westhampton Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Webb suggested that interested persons should use the money to dine out for an evening.