Reverend Claude L. Webb Sr. departed this life and was called home on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at his home in Atchison, KS.

Homegoing services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 13, 2020, at Shiloh Baptist Church.  Visitation with the family will be on Sunday, Jan. 12th from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home. Interment will be Tuesday, Jan. 14th at 11:00 a.m. at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Care has been entrusted to the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.arensbergpruett.com.

Claude was born to Luke Webb and Dorothy Washington on December 8, 1925 in Byhalia, MS.  He confessed his belief in Christ at an early age in Byhalia, MS. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1944 and spent 2 years serving our country, including his call of duty in World War II. He was honorably discharged and returned home to Byhalia where he married the love of his life, Precious Australia Malone on September 15th, 1946.

Claude leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife Precious Australia Webb, his children, Christine McClough, Kansas City, KS, Dorothy Tidwell Atchison, KS Alton Webb (Andrea) , Kansas City, Mo Albert Webb, Atchison, KS, Claude L. Webb, Jr. (Jane), Kansas City, MO, Joan Webb McAfee, Leawood, KS, Nelson Webb (Mary), Kansas City, KS, Truly A. Webb, Atchison, KS, Sabrina M. Dudley, Atchison, KS and India N. Boulton (Jonathan), Leawood, KS . He leaves 21 Grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. He also leaves 2 sister-in-law’s and one brother-in-law to mourn him:  Charity Street, Memphis, TN, Artentry Futrell, St. Louis, MO, and Burnell Malone (Dorothy Malone) Memphis, TN. He also has a host of nieces, nephews and cousins that dearly loved him. He was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Precious Wilson; two son in-law’s: Frank McClough (Christine), Pastor Willie G. McAfee (Joan); six sisters:  Octavia King, Addie B. Buford, Elizabeth Stephens, Gertrude McNeal, Rose Childress and Katherine Jackson.  4 brothers also preceded him in death: Victor Webb, Nelson Webb, David Webb, Allen Webb. 

Claude lived and labored in Atchison and the surrounding community for over 60 years.  He served as the Pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Hiawatha, KS from 1983 to 2006 when he retired from pastoring but continued his ministry.  From 1957 to 1983 he was the Pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church (later merged to form Shiloh) in Atchison, KS. When Reverend Webb felt the calling in his heart to become a man of the Lord, he said he knew he would answer it. He felt that God had a reason for putting him on this earth, and that was to spread his word. Even after being a pastor for over 50 years, the fire still burned the same in his heart.

He retired from the VA in Leavenworth where he worked as a culinary chef and later volunteered. He formerly served as the President of the Congress of Christian Education and the Vice Moderator of the Northeastern District Association. He was actively involved in the Atchison community where he served as the President for the Citizens for Community Action from 1973 to 2000 and also served as the President and Vice-President of the Minister’s Alliance and the Multi-County Board.  He has officiated at numerous weddings, funerals and baptisms.  He was truly a community pastor—he visited the sick and counseled those in need. He led by example and exemplified what being a missionary pastor truly meant by personally touching thousands of lives.

To know him was to love him. He loved his family and his friends. His grandchildren will tell you that he made the best pancakes in the world. He was an avid fisherman with his buddy Mr. William Dudley and hunter with his friend Mr. Eddie Briggs. And shared long conversations with his dear friend Mr. Marion “Bud” Kelly.