Retha Dean Webb

My extraordinary mother, Retha Dean Webb, sadly shuffled off this mortal coil on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Retha was a true force of nature, a self-described "eternal optimist, seasoned skeptic, and anti-racist."

Mom lived a life full of countless adventures, from a baton-twirling majorette at Gardendale High to obtaining her master's in clinical psychology remotely (before that was hip), toddler in tow while living the hippie life with my father and teenage sisters in Idyllwild, California. She spent a lifetime involved in politics, serving on the California State Democratic Party Central Committee, delegating for the Mondale/Ferraro presidential campaign, and participating in grassroots efforts with Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Push Coalition. She moved to Washington, D.C., in 1986, and though she stayed closely aligned with politics, she moved into an administrative career at Georgetown University Medical Center. She returned to her hometown of Birmingham in the early 2000's.

Mom was a true feminist and fighter for social justice. She was a champion for human, civil, and women's rights, as well as the welfare of animals. She played the autoharp and a fierce game of Scrabble. She loved the arts, all genres of music, sunbathing in Desert Hot Springs, Baja Mexico, pink lipstick, Lancôme Tresor perfume (YSL Paris on special occasions) tending to her garden with the butterflies and a great cup of coffee with carrot cake.

The world feels a little less bright without her in it. As unexpected and unmooring as this was, I find some comfort in the thought that she is finally at peace. Her passion for justice and her deep empathy for everyone-and everything-will forever be my inspiration. Her wish would be for us all to live life out loud and to keep getting into "Good Trouble."

Retha is survived by her daughter Jessica Webb-Simpson, her stepdaughters Kelly Simpson and Stacey Van Landingham, and her nieces and nephews Penny Arnold, Tracy Peyton, Ian Arnold, Stacy Wood, EV Townsend, and Matthew Webb. To her many beloved cousins, namely Benny, Pat, Brenda, and Wanda, thank you all for your loving support during this time. She is preceded in death by her parents, Flara V. and John Flavis Webb, and her siblings, Virginia Arnold, Jerry, and Phillip Webb-May their circle be unbroken.