George M. "Buddy" Webb, 81, died peacefully in the early morning hours of Jan. 9, at Hospice of the Upstate (Rainey House), in Anderson, SC.

Born in Lithonia, GA, on Jan. 1, 1941, George was known as a talented musician, designer, and amateur sailor as well as a loving husband, father and grandfather.

The clarinet he learned to play in junior high school opened the door to a lifelong love of music, first paving the way as a saxophonist for the Lithonia High School band and dance band then broadening to several extraordinary years as an in-demand saxophonist who toured and recorded with several bands, including the Upsetters and ultimately, Jerry Lee Lewis.

George’s time with the Upsetters began when the band discovered him playing at a night club while he was a University of Kentucky student and convinced him to take a time-out from his studies to go on the road with them. During his years with the band, the Upsetters recorded for the legendary Sun Records in Memphis, TN, and traveled the country doing shows on their own as well as playing backup for many famous recording artists across multiple musical genres. The band eventually landed with Jerry Lee Lewis and also recorded with the famous rock ‘n roll artist. George holds the distinction of being the only saxophone player ever to have a solo on a recording with Lewis. That recording, Teenage Letter, has been featured on several albums and compilations.

George left the band in 1963 to serve his country in the Vietnam War with the U.S. Army for two years, returning to school afterward where he attended the University of Kentucky and Morehead University in Morehead, KY.

He joined McGraw Hill Publishing Company in 1969 as an architectural reporter in Charlotte, NC, and remained with the company through multiple positions and locations, including Minneapolis, MN, and Houston, TX. In 1985, he joined Mako ComAir as a design engineer in Ocala, FL, where he designed compressed air transfer units.

He and his wife, Judy, chose to retire to Broadway Lake in Anderson, SC, where he reconnected with boating and a love of water that he’d enjoyed years before as an amateur sailor on Upstate South Carolina lakes and in Florida, sailing and racing his classic Flying Dutchman sailboat. In addition to participating in the Broadway Lake community, George took up golf in his later years so that he could practice with his youngest daughter, Morgan Webb, until she left to play collegiate golf on scholarship, and he wryly observed that she “had it.”

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judy Butler Webb; daughters, Gina Webb Kenney (Rob), of Lyman, SC, and Morgan Butler Webb, of Anderson, SC; sons, Stephen Butler Webb, of Greenville, SC, and David Christopher Webb, of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Louden and Sawyer of Atlanta, GA; sister, Jane W. Clifford (Gordon), of Anderson, SC; brother-in-law, Scott Baker (Kym), of Nashville, TN; niece, Jan Clifford Stephens (Chase) of Atlanta, GA; great nephew, Nate Stephens, of Atlanta, GA; as well as special friends: Allen, Jackie, Sheila, Anne, Dennis and Kermit.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Janet Franklin Webb Smith, and stepfather, Hoke Smith, of Lithonia, GA.

The family will host a memorial service at a later date. Mr. Webb will be interred at MJ "Dolly" Cooper Veterans Cemetery.

The Standard Cremation & Funeral Center is serving the Webb family and a message of condolence may be sent by visiting www.standardfuneralcenter.com.