Webb mayor dies at age 72

Webb has lost its mayor.

Walter Byrd Buie, who was wrapping up his second term as the town’s mayor, died Wednesday morning at age 72 after a bout with pneumonia.

Buie lived in Webb his entire life and, according to those close to him, left an enduring legacy of kindness.

“We loved him. We absolutely loved him,” said Kim Brown, the town clerk. “He was always kind and gentle. You could talk to him about anything, and he was always real easy going.”

Buie’s wife, Cindy, said his honesty was undeniable.

“He was a sincere man,” she said. “He was very compassionate, and he could be an emotional man when he needed to be. Somebody could go to him and say, ‘I need to talk to you, but don’t tell nobody,’ and he would do that. If he told you he would so something, he would do it. He followed through.”

Byrd, as most people called him, was also a man who loved his work and cared about people.

“Fun-loving, hard working. He was a workaholic,” Cindy said. “He loved to work. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was that way with people.”

Buie had battled his illness for a while, and according to Brown, he was ready to go.

“He had a long illness for about a year, and he had contracted pneumonia, and he was tired and ready to go. He had fought as long, hard battle,” Brown said.

Lamar Ivey will serve as mayor until at least next Tuesday’s runoff election, when he faces Vicky Hunter in the mayoral race.