Claude Raymond Webb, 98, of Carthage, IL, passed away at 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at Hancock Village in Carthage.

He was born November 4, 1924 in Summum, Fulton County, Illinois, to Claud E. and Winnie M. Bandle Webb. His family moved to Hancock County in 1927 and into Bentley shortly after that. He was baptized into Providence Primitive Baptist Church near Plymouth in March of 1940. He served in the army in Europe during World War II as an ambulance driver/medic. After the war in Europe ended, his division returned to the US, expecting to be sent to the south Pacific front. He married Betty White August 27, 1945 in Hattiesburg, MS, when she and his mother came to visit.

After being honorably discharged from the army, he was asked to preach for Friendship Primitive Baptist Church in northern Hancock County. He was ordained to the ministry in November 1947 and continued pastoring churches for more than 75 years. He also worked first as a substitute teacher, then as a full time teacher and principal for several elementary school districts in Hancock County, retiring from school work in 1980.

Raymond is survived by 5 children, Jimme (Pat) of Enterprise, AL; Robert (Linda) of Carthage; Randy (Bertha) of Bloomington, IL, Nancy of Kirksville, MO, and Ray (Andrea) of Marble Falls, TX; also 11 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, on July 16, 2012, by his parents, four sisters, Doris Jones, Louise Allen, Evelyn Ganion, and Ruth Briggs, and one brother, George “Louie” Webb, two grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at the Printy Funeral Home in Carthage on Saturday, June 17 at 11am with burial to follow in Harmony Township Cemetery near Bentley. A visitation will be held that morning from 10am until the start of the service. Memorials may be directed to Providence Primitive Baptist Church near Plymouth or to Hancock Village in Carthage.