Rebel Webster passed away February 8, 2021, in Dallas as a result of heart failure. Rebel was born July 22, 1959 to L.D. “Red” Webster and Frankie Dell (Green) Webster in Dallas, Texas.
She attended The Lamplighter School, The Hockaday School and graduated Salutatorian of the Class of 1978 from Hillcrest High School. Rebel graduated from Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1981. She was a member of Phi Mu sorority.
Rebel married Gordon Lee Law of Dallas, Texas in 1981 and they had a daughter, Savannah Star Law. They divorced in 1989. She later married Michael Alan Webb of Corpus Christi, Texas on September 20, 2002 and they lived happily in Dallas.
She was pre-deceased by her parents and older sister Lydia Green. She is survived by husband Michael, daughter Savannah Star Law; grandson Elijah Addison Best and niece Misty (Green) Nedrow of Austin, Texas.
A determined equestrian, she spent her youth traveling across Texas with her father competing in horse shows. She established herself and her horses as elite competitors in western dressage, equitation and horsemanship in youth and junior competitions – amassing hundreds of first place ribbons and trophies and voluminous championship buckles and Best in Show honors.
Rebel was an extraordinarily talented writer and successful business communications professional. Her love for writing sprang naturally as her father was sports editor at the Dallas Dispatch (which became the Dallas Times Herald) and then Vice President of Public Relations for Lone Star Steel. Her grandfather was the editor of a local newspaper in west Texas.
Rebel began her career in radio, writing advertising copy and managing promotions at KMGC 102.9 FM, and like her father turned her talents to public relations at Martha Tiller Public Relations agency and eventually leading PR and communications at The Dallas Arboretum.
Her exacting standards and leadership capabilities were further acknowledged by her tenure as Executive Director of the Dallas Ad League and as Governor for the Tenth District of the American Advertising Federation.
Rebel spent nearly a decade as senior communications counsel to The Southland Corporation/7-Eleven, Inc./7-Eleven Japan - creating and implementing domestic and global public relations, community relations, and crisis programs across multiple departments and service lines. It was in this role she received once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to write for former South African President Nelson Mandela as well as activist and civil rights leader Coretta Scott King.
Rebel’s independent work as a strategic communications consultant and freelance writer included domestic and international clients such as Anheuser-Busch, Blockbuster, CHRISTUS Health and CHRISTUS Health Foundation, Half Price Books, Jaguar of America, Jones Lang LaSalle, Wienerschnitzel, TXU Energy and many others.
For Rebel, writing was a joy. But her true happiness manifested in the form of gardening. Her love and talent for nurturing and orchestrating God’s botanic creations was His remarkable gift to her. The joy she experienced in tending and creating beauty with those simple treasures was her expression of reverence and thankfulness to Him.
Rebel’s horticultural prowess earned her an invitation to work with the Northwood Hills Homeowners Association as Beautification Chair. Charged with enhancing and smartening the entrances and medians within the 1,200-household non-profit HOA. She soon became President and launched the first full color, sponsor-supported newsletter and led the annual Fourth of July celebration and parade. She served for nine years, retiring in 2016.
Above all, Rebel loved and cherished her daughter Savannah and grandson Eli. She supported them both through extensive volunteerism and leadership service in their schools and extracurricular activities. She strived to give them her very best. Her incessant mantra to both –
“Be honest. Be fair. Be strong. Be kind.,” was not only her guidance for their growth and success, but how she endeavored, so very hard, to live her life.
“A force of nature” has often been applied in attempts to describe Rebel Webster. But it does not adequately describe the outwardly complex, yet refreshingly simple person she was.
- Her strength: originated from her faith in God.
- Her drive: arose from her love of Savannah, Eli and Michael and determined to help them be their very best in the eyes of God.
- Her spirit: resulted from a childlike perspective and joy at the wonders of God’s creations.
- Her kindness: was inspired by the grace she received from Christ and personified in her relationship with all animals, especially her dogs.
Rebel’s was a life lived well. Her natural beauty enthralled those around her. Her words, wisdom and wit – written or spoken – comforted, encouraged and entertained those in her orbit. She tended souls as effortlessly as flowers, and all blossomed in her wake. Strangers, acquaintances, neighbors, friends, and family were fortunate to know her. Fortunate to be inspired by her. Beyond blessed to have loved her.
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A private memorial service will be held
Saturday, March 6, 2021, 10 a.m. at Spring Valley United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Due to COVID
the service will be streamed live at www.svumc.org/in-memoriam.
Memorial donations may be made in support of Rebel’s family at
GoFundMe or in her memory to
DFW Beagle Buddies Rescue, or the
National Parks Foundation.