Lial James Webber

Lial James “LJ” Webber went on to greener pastures Thursday, November 19, 2020. His last weeks were filled with precious, intimate moments with those he loved so selflessly and completely. After he passed, his daughter found an email he’d sent back in 2010 that included a biography he wrote for a website. LJ’s own beautiful words tell his heroic story. 

“Born in San Antonio, Texas to a musical father and mother, I was raised with country music and began singing along with learning to talk.  As a child and teenager I was more into athletics and played baseball, football and ran track. I began to rodeo at age 15 riding bulls and bareback bronc riding, it was in my blood. I was winning events and continued riding until I was 18 and in an automobile wreck in the hill country, where I’d moved after my father passed away. I was a passenger, asleep in the front seat, without a seat belt.  When the driver, a teen as well, fell asleep at the wheel, the car ran off the road and into a tree.  As peer pressured teens, we had been drinking. I don’t remember the wreck. The time was about 3 am.  By the grace of God, an off-duty patrolman found us and had a radio to call an ambulance.   When I arrived at the hospital in Kerrville, I had no pulse.  I had lost so much blood and had severe internal trauma. X-rays also revealed a C 6-7 cervical neck fracture.   I awoke about 5 days later in a San Antonio hospital, the same one I was born in.  Guess you could say I was born again so to speak. When I awoke I could not speak due a trachea tube in my windpipe and was on a ventilator. I didn’t have a clue where I was or what had happened, I was just ready to get back home.  Then I realized I was connected to tubes everywhere.  After 4 months in that hospital I was released to a rehab center.  During this time, no one really explained the spinal cord injury to me.  I thought the rehab place was where you went to get your legs working and back on your feet, then a guy showed up and measured my legs for braces.  MRI’s showed the spinal cord injury was mild, but I had lost too much blood and starved the spinal cord of oxygen, resulting in paraplegia. 

Later in 1975, LJ and his sister Dian formed a country music group, Dian Roberts and the Leisuremen Band, playing and traveling all across Texas. “I played music professionally for 15 years on stages, but no one knew I was in a wheelchair, because I was embarrassed to be seen in it.  I always set up on stage before the crowd arrived and sat in a regular folding chair I always took on the road with me.  After the crowd left, we would tear down our equipment and leave out in the wee hours of the morning to the next destination or home and other jobs. I was fortunate to get to do shows with such country greats as Mo Bandy, Red Steagal and Tammy Wynette.  Her fiddle player came up to me on stage and said, “Man, you sing your tail off!”  I thought, “boy if you only knew.”

In 1986, I became the father of twins, a girl and a boy and decided to quit playing and be home to raise the children I’d always wanted.  They are the best kids anyone could ever ask for.  Never a day’s worth of trouble from either one of them.  I also raised a beautiful step daughter and have 2 wonderful grandchildren from her and her husband. My wife has been a blessing, dealing with all the difficulties she inherits from being married to a paraplegic, so kudo’s to her. Currently, I am working with the producers and writer of a film, having co-written the opening song and several others on the soundtrack.  I write and produce music through my own publishing company. That’s a condensed version of my life and living with a spinal cord injury. Keep the faith and never quit trying your hardest to achieve your goals in life, and most of all dance with the one who brung ya, our Father in Heaven.”

In the next several years, LJ and his wife Melinda gained 5 more grandbabies, totaling 7. He also wrote ten children’s books and published the first one of the series. LJ’s life was about teaching and leaving a special impact on everyone he met. His books offer his wisdom and simple life lessons he lives by. His legend lives through his own influential words. LJ also coached little league baseball for almost a decade, making a lasting impact on many young lives. He was passionate about the game and was a devoted Astros fan. Sharing this passion with his daughter Randi, he cherished their tradition of talking back and forth during every game, season after season. 

LJ was proceeded in death by his father and mother, James and Lila Webber, and his sister, Dian Piper. He is survived by his wife Melinda, who he loved endlessly for over 30 years; his children, who were his pride and joy, Chase Webber and wife Shannon, Randi Webber, Katie Buck and husband Charlie; and his grandchildren, who were his heart and soul, Garrett, Tyler, Colten, Clay, Remington, Decklynn, and Marli. 

A service will be held at a later date at the Eckert Cemetery in Willow City, followed by a celebration of LJ’s life. The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses, doctors, and other caretakers at Peterson Regional Memorial Center who so gently, kindly, and compassionately cared for him in his final days. In lieu of flowers, the family would love if you considered honoring LJ by continuing to touch lives through his children’s book, “The Adventures of Gus and Little Pig” available on Amazon. Proceeds support his daughter Katie’s wildlife rescue center, Buck Wild, in which his books center around. However, we know the greatest way to honor LJ Webber is to simply be kind and do for others. He did more in his lifetime sitting down than most of us can ever imagine doing on our two feet. Just days before finally being whole again, LJ said it best,  

“I guess to sum it all up, just lead with your heart.”

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