Joseph Bernard Webb

He was a native of Galax, Virginia where he attended the public schools. After graduation from Galax High School, he attended Mars Hill College and transferred to Wake Forest University where he graduated cum laude in 1958. While at Wake Forest, he was awarded a Carnegie Fellowship to pursue graduate study at George Peabody College (now Vanderbilt University) where he received his Master of Arts degree. He continued post-graduate study throughout his career at UCLA, ECU, NCSU, and UNC-CH.

Joe began his career in education as an English and social studies teacher at Wiley Junior High School in Winston-Salem. It was during this period that he married his wife Marianne, and they became the proud parents of their daughter, Camille. In 1965 the young family moved to Kinston, NC where Joe became the Principal of Harvey Junior High School and later Director of Staff Development and Instruction.

In 1970 the family moved to Raleigh, where Joe worked for 23 years at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. He served in many capacities there including Director of Federal Education Programs and Assistant State Superintendent, a position in which he had responsibility for leading the development of curriculum for the public schools of the State. Upon his retirement in 1993, Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. awarded him the State’s highest honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Joe then began work as a private education consultant to several organizations including the North Carolina Education Standards and Accountability Commission and the Center for International Education.

Joe was a long-time member of Raleigh’s First Baptist Church and its John Hiott Fellowship Class. He served on numerous committees and especially enjoyed his time in the church’s extensive library where he worked each Thursday for almost 30 years. He was also a loyal Demon Deacon fan and a former member of the Raleigh Sports Club.

Joe enjoyed reading, music, travel and gardening. After retirement he could most often be found in “Grandpa’s Garden” which he designed and tended as long as he was able. Most of all he enjoyed time with his family.

He is predeceased by his beloved wife Marianne and his brother, Thomas Collier Webb.

He is survived by his daughter, Camille Webb Mims and her husband Jim; two granddaughters, Ashley Camille Mims and Allison Mims Smith and her husband, Jonathan; and his great-grandson, James Asher Smith, all of Raleigh.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 am on January 17, 2026, at First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC, and the family will receive friends at a reception in the church fellowship hall, immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to

First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603, or to Transitions LifeCare Hospice, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, is serving the Webb family.