Sam Clement Webb Jr.

Sam Clement Webb, Jr.
November 8, 1952 – January 5, 2026
Sam Clement Webb, Jr. passed away peacefully at home under hospice care surrounded by his family on January 5, 2026, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease and dementia.
Born on November 8, 1952, at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Sam grew up in the close-knit Emory University community where his father served as a professor of psychology. After graduating from Druid Hills High School in 1970, he continued his academic pursuits. He completed his studies at Emory University in 1975 with an undergraduate degree in history. His career ultimately led him down a different path, but his deep knowledge of history remained a constant presence in his life. Often evoking "eyerolls" from his sons and wife, Sam famously enjoyed proctoring high-stakes games of "historical fact or fiction?", which involved bating his audience into challenging the veracity of his sometimes-outlandish historical claims. In those debates, Sam usually prevailed.
Sam's passion for soccer began early, during the sport's earliest introduction to Atlanta-area high schools. He played throughout his years at both Druid Hills High School and Emory University. While still a student athlete at Emory, he also competed with the DeKalb Hot Spurs under Scottie O'Neill and would later play for the 1979 National Amateur Championship team, "Datagraphics," owned by George Baker. In what his sons and wife would later describe as "Sam Webb fashion," he did not display his National Amateur Championship Cup. Instead, he put it to good use, storing pocket change in the family home. Sam's love for the game never waned. He spent many seasons coaching his sons and countless other young people at Jones Bridge and Pinckneyville Parks.
Beyond the soccer field, Sam's life took a happy turn at Atlanta's iconic jazz club Dante's Down the Hatch. It was at Dante's in Underground Atlanta where Sam met his wife, Kathleen Murphy; they were married in 1980. Sam managed the original location before helping to build the Dante's Down the Hatch location in Buckhead. Following the birth of their first son, Sam was hired by IBM. This career change required a move that took Sam, Kathleen and their first son Stewart to Columbia, South Carolina. Here they remained until 1988. They eventually returned to the Atlanta area, now with their three kids in-tow with the additions of sons Neill and Collin. Sam remained a dedicated employee of IBM until his retirement in 2016.
Predictably, in his retirement, Sam couldn't sit still. He could most often be found volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity Restore or the Duluth Co-op. He seemed to enjoy the simple things including weekly hikes with his wife Kathleen, frequent walks on the Suwanee Greenway, gardening, cooking, and birding. Together, he and Kathleen shared many memorable adventures driving across the country. Sam will be remembered for his humor, his mischievous nature, his sharp intellect, and, most importantly, his unwavering love for his friends and family.
Family and Service Sam is predeceased by his father, Dr. Sam C. Webb, and his mother, Neva Jackson Webb. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, his sons Stewart, Neill, and Collin (Caty Swanson), his sister, Nancy Webb, and a host of nephews and one niece.
A celebration of Sam's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Everett's Music Barn, 4055 Stonecypher Rd., Suwanee.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Sam to one of the following organizations:
• Soccer in the Streets: www.soccerstreets.org
• Hands of Christ Duluth Coop: www.Duluthco-op.org
Online condolences may be expressed at www.crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements by Crowell Brothers Peachtree Chapel Funeral Home, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross/Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. (770)448-5757