Charles Almon Webb

Charles Almon Webb, Jr., age 86, died Monday, August 15th, 2016, at the Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. He was born January 10th, 1930 in Gulfport to parents Charles Almon Webb Sr., a former golf pro at the Great Southern Club of Gulfport, and Lillian Webb. Charles (Charlie), affectionately called “Red” due to his thin crop of red hair and much later in life “Poppy” by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, lived the entirety of his life in the town that he loved—Gulfport. He met and fell in love with Dorothy “Dot” Harlan while attending Gulfport High School, where they played mixed doubles tennis for the high school tennis team. Charlie and Dot had a great love that spanned more than 60 years. Charlie graduated from Gulfport High School, married Dot on May 7, 1951 and was sent to Korea with the United States Army shortly thereafter. Upon his return, Charlie and Dot became parents to their first child, Charles Almon Webb III, and over the next few years, their family would grow to include Gary Leroy Webb, Penny Lynn Webb and Bryan Harry Webb. As his family grew, so did Charlie’s professional career. Charles A. Webb, Jr.’s history with Hancock Bank would span six decades—something Hancock Bank would recount in two resolutions of recognition and praise that the board of directors bestowed upon Charlie near his retirement in 2006. In 1948, a young Charlie joined the Proof Department at Hancock Bank. He soon progressed to a teller position, then on to the customer accounts bookkeeping area, where he soon became a manager. In the ensuing decade, he quickly rose through the ranks and was named assistant cashier, assistant vice president and manager of a newly opened Mississippi City-Handsboro Branch. While advancing his career, he pursued further education by finishing the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University, The Senior Bank Officers School at Harvard Business College, and the School of Commercial Lending at Oklahoma University. Other titles and appointments followed until he achieved Executive Vice President, during which time he was appointed to the Bank Senior Officer Management Team. When the bank merged into Louisiana, Charlie became Chief Credit Officer to both the Hancock Bank of Mississippi and Hancock Bank of Louisiana. Along the way, he served as Vice President and on the boards of two of the Bank’s subsidiaries—Harrison Life Insurance Company and Harrison Finance Company—culminating with his election to the Board of Directors of both Hancock Bank of Mississippi and Louisiana. His loyalty, knowledge, experience, and untiring efforts assisted in the growth and development of the Bank from a $12-million-dollar institution in 1948 to over six billion dollars at his retirement. Throughout his time at Hancock Bank, Charlie made lasting partnerships and friendships that stood steadfast through his lifetime. Many fellow Hancock associates and Gulfport citizens lauded him as the “father” of the company’s original Mississippi City-Handsboro branch and the Courthouse Road branch in the heart of one of the city’s most thriving business districts; and many Gulfport customers considered him the embodiment of the quintessential Hancock banker who instinctively understood his customers’ financial needs. During his 60-plus years at Hancock Bank, Charlie demonstrated devotion to not only his family and his faith, but also his country and his community by holding office and/or board positions on such civic organizations as Gulfport Jaycees, Red Cross, Broadwater Country Club and membership in American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Lions Club. His public service included the Gulfport Recreation Committee as well as President and Board Member of the State Port of Gulfport. He and Dot were also longstanding members of Trinity Methodist Church. Though Charlie was highly successful in his professional career, he was most well known as “Poppy” to the Webb family and friends. Poppy is survived by his wife, Dot Webb; brother Jerry (Bee) Webb of Atlanta, GA; sons Charles A. Webb III (Terri) of Gulfport; Dr. Gary L. Webb (Wanda) of Dallas, TX. Poppy was predeceased by his daughter, Penny Webb Carvin; son, Bryan Harry Webb; brother Robert A. Webb. Poppy is also survived by his grandchildren: Charles A. Webb IV (Meg) of Birmingham, AL; Timothy H. Webb (Kim) of Memphis, TN; Courtney H. Webb of Gulfport; Clayton Clark Webb (Adair) of Dallas; Alexander Ross Webb of Dallas; William Garrett Webb (Brianne) of Dallas; John Harlan Webb of Dallas; Kellie Baker Hall (Ben) of Atlanta; and Chris Baker (Tara) of Elkton, MD; step-grandchildren Tiffany Hadaway Noble (Adam) of Biloxi and Andrew Hadaway (Erin) of Destin, FL. Poppy is also survived by his and Dot’s 17 great-grandchildren: Charlie Webb, Mac Webb, Walker Webb, Avery Webb, Samuel Webb, James Webb, Christian Webb, Jacob Webb, Nathan Webb, Caitlyn Andrews, Bradley Heitzman, Carly Heitzman, Sydney Hall, Katie Hall, Lillian Hall, Aidan Baker, Grayson Baker. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to their longtime friend and physician Dr. Boyd Benefield. The Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 1726 15th Street, Gulfport will host visitation Friday, August 19, 9:30 – 11:00 am, with a service directly following at 11:00 am. Private graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be given to a church or charity of choice. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com