Dorothy M. Webb

Dorothy was a native of New Orleans, where she lived most of her life, and a resident of Houston since 1995. The oldest of three siblings, she was the daughter of Mary Ida Little Maness and Robert William Maness and granddaughter of Matthew Stonewall Little and Ida May Cotton.

Dorothy was an exceptional student and proud alumna of Eleanor McMain School, Newcomb College (BA 1951 with honors), Tulane University (MA 1953) and Tulane Law School (JD 1980). At Newcomb she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa honor society and Alpha Delta Pi sorority. After completing her graduate work in Spanish and Portuguese, Dorothy taught Spanish language and culture as well as English as a Second Language for many years. In 1957 she was selected to teach in a new educational television series launched by public station WYES.

As her daughter and son grew up, Dorothy retired from teaching but was active in many organizations, including the Women’s Auxiliary of the Louisiana Engineering Society which she served as president in 1977-78. She entered law school that same year and embarked on a second career as a lawyer, joining a long line of attorneys in her family dating back to the early 19th century. She worked as a public defender in Jefferson Parish and in private practice on a fascinating array of civil and criminal matters, and also served on occasion as a court interpreter. In 1982 Dorothy was appointed by Gov. David Treen as an honorary Colonel on the Governor’s staff. At all times she was an enthusiastic and beloved volunteer at her children’s schools (St Andrew’s Episcopal School, Ursuline Academy and Isidore Newman School), serving in myriad roles including room mother, substitute teacher and debate judge.

After retirement, Dorothy and her husband George followed their children to Houston, where Dorothy quickly made herself active in the Houston Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae Chapter, the Woodside Civic Club, St Mark’s Episcopal Church, the Women’s Institute of Houston, a cancer survivors group, a lady lawyers luncheon group, and especially in the lives of her children and grandchildren, who were the lights of her life.

Dorothy had a passion for writing and for sharing her stories with her family. She joined and later taught a creative writing course at Life Enrichment of Houston (LEOH), which she enjoyed immensely. She also developed a keen interest in family history and genealogy, which she pursued through research in libraries, courthouses, cemeteries and family history organizations across the U.S. and in Scotland. As a gift to her descendants, she compiled her research in detailed notes and colorful biographical stories on ancestors from every branch of the family tree. Dorothy took a special delight in her Scottish heritage as a member of Clan Little, and is responsible for introducing to her family the Little tartan and other Scottish customs which the family now proudly carries on.

An inveterate traveler from her earliest days, Dorothy traveled extensively in Latin America, Europe and throughout the U.S. Her trips produced many exciting stories, but one stands out above all: she was in Havana, Cuba on New Year's Day 1959, where she became an eyewitness to the Cuban Revolution.

Throughout her life Dorothy had a great love of Creole cooking and more generally of hospitality, in which she embraced family, friends and even friends-of-friends with unbounded warmth and without hesitation. One of her first initiatives upon moving to Houston was to organize a Christmas reunion of the extended Webb family – a tradition that continues to this day and that will always be Dorothy’s party.

Dorothy was a two-time survivor of cancer. She was predeceased by her first husband, William Moore Jones, and an infant son, William Jones. She is survived by her husband George Walton Webb; her daughter Ann Elizabeth Webb and granddaughter Elizabeth Grace Crist; her son George Walton Webb III and his wife Susannah Koontz Webb; her brothers Robert and James Maness and their wives Malise and Phyllis Maness; and more beloved godchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins than can be counted.

A memorial service celebrating Dorothy’s life will be held Saturday, December 10 at 3:00 PM at St Mark's Episcopal Church, 3816 Bellaire Blvd (at Stella Link), Houston TX 77025. A choral prelude will precede the service starting at about 2:45 PM. Dorothy will be interred the previous day at 10:30 AM at Houston National Cemetery; a piper and drummer will play at the burial service. For additional details, please contact Levy Funeral Directors at (713) 660-6633.

Dorothy was beloved by all who knew her; her gracious manner, welcoming heart and strength of spirit touched everyone she met. She will be greatly missed.