Obituary of Herbert Mitchell Webb, III

Attorney Herbert Mitchell Webb, III, age 74, passed away peacefully at UF Health Neuromedicine Hospital on Monday, November 29, 2021, from complications of a stroke.  He had aggressively and courageously battled prostate cancer for the past year and a half and is finally at peace with the Lord.

Herb was born in Ocala, Florida on August 13, 1947.  He attended Blessed Trinity Catholic School through the eighth grade and served as an altar boy for Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.   Herb graduated from Ocala High School in 1965 and was chosen by his classmates as an Outstanding Ocaleean.  In 1968, Herb received an undergraduate degree in English at Tulane University, in New Orleans, LA, where he was an SAE brother, and then received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida in 1972.  He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1973 and served as General Counsel for the St Johns Water Management District for a few years before relocating to Gainesville, Florida and starting his private law practice in 1976. Throughout his 44 years of private practice he represented people with a wide range of legal matters, to include cases in the specialties of Bankruptcy, Business, Family, Personal Injury, Real Estate and Health Law.  He often said the most rewarding aspect of law was the ability to help people.  His clients appreciated his competence, resolve and compassion and he was well respected by the judges and community attorneys, who also acknowledged and applauded his skill and professional demeanor in the courtroom.   Herb served as General Counsel of Lake Butler Hospital, located in Lake Butler, Florida, for 36 years.  The first 10 years began in 1984 with Health America of Florida and he continued his position for another 26 years after the change of hospital ownership to Medlink Management Services in 1994.  For the past year, he also served as hospital Vice President and as a Board member.  Herb engaged in various business ventures and real estate developments before and during the early years of his private law practice, to include The Gainesville Emergency Room and Care-1 Belleview, which he jointly operated with his brother, Dr. Michael Webb, and the development of the Mockingbird Hill Office Building located in Belleview, Florida, and the Hidden Hills Subdivision located in Gainesville, Florida. 

Herb is survived by his beloved wife, Paula G Webb, whom he met in 1984 and married in 1999; they shared 36 wonderful years together, his two sons, Justin M Webb and Dillon M Webb and daughter, Sarah M Webb; mother-in-law, Marsha J Emerson of Alachua; brothers, Dr. Michael J Webb (Patti) of Tampa, John D Webb and Jody W Webb, of Ocala and Bill B Webb of Alpharetta, GA; sisters, Mimi W Ayer (Michael) and Jane M Voge (Joe) of Summerfield, Lisa M Hodges (Mark) of Gainesville, Gwen A Carlton (Dwayne) of Ocala; brother-in-law, Greg A Emerson (Susan) of Alachua; sister-in-law, Robin R Watson (Archie) of Quincy; nephews, Josh Ayer (Wendi), Max Ayer (Tiffany), James Webb (Margarita), Brian Cook (Chelsea), Kevin Cook, Mark Hodges, Jr (Sarah), Joseph Putnam (Rebecca), Crawford Webb, Hunter Webb, Dennis Webb, Cody Watson, and Dustin Watson (Brooke); nieces, Liz Snyder (Sam), Kelly Carlton, Emily Presnell (Trey), Hannah Love (Reed), and Megan Watson; 13 grand nephews and nieces, and the rest of his loving family and friends.

Herb is preceded in death by his parents Dr. Herbert M Webb, Jr and Murial (Pilcher) Webb and sister-in-law, Mala A Webb; nephews, Michael J Webb and John C Webb.

Herb was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying many activities, including boating, kayaking, hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, skiing, and gardening.  His favorite place to travel was to North Carolina, where he would enjoy time with his wife and children hiking the waterfall trails of the Great Smoky Mountains and listening to Ralph Stanley’s “Clinch Mountain Sweethearts”, which included one of his favorites, “Angel Band”.  He acquired a pilot’s license for a few years and enjoyed flying planes.  He was a very devoted and loving husband and father who always provided encouragement and support for his family.  He always wanted the best education for his children allowing them to make the best use of their talents and reach their highest potential and happiness.  He was a kind and generous soul who made friendships for life, as he never said “no” to a friend in need.  He was a positive influence on the lives of so many people and he will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be held at 5:00pm-7:00pm, Monday, December 6 at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services (910 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470).

The Funeral Mass will be held at 12:30pm, Tuesday, December 7 at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church with Rev. Patrick “Father Pat” Sheedy officiating

A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm, at Highland Memorial Park, following the Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Herb’s name to the Prostate Cancer Foundation online at www.pcf.org. Online condolences may be sent to hiers-baxley.com.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all those who have supported us during this time of loss and grief.  The Webb Family