Jody L. Webster

Jody L. Webster, 57, of Aledo, Illinois, passed Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Mercer Manor Rehabilitation after a courageous fight with Stage 4 Lung Cancer.

A celebration of life will be held from 10:00 to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 7, at Camden Park in Milan, Illinois. Cremation will take place at Trimble Crematory, Moline, Illinois, under the direction of Cremation Society of the Quad Cities. Memorials may be made to QC Paws or the Aledo Veterinary Clinic.

The former Jody Lee Baker was born May 28, 1968, in Tacoma, Washington, the daughter of Lela Rodamsky. She attended Westmer High School in Joy, Illinois, obtained her GED, and attended medical assistant schooling before finding her true calling with IATSE. She married Timothy Webster on June 5, 1999, in Memphis, Tennessee. He preceded her in death in February 2022.

Jody was a proud member of IATSE Locals 69, 85, and 193 for more than 30 years and took immense pride in her work. She was a strong, hard working, skilled professional, who loved sharing her wisdom in our chosen craft to younger members who she willingly mentored! She didn’t abide by the “ole Boy’s club” mentality & continually fought to earn respect & fair treatment for women through the industry, no matter where she went to work. It never took Jody long to quickly earn that respect in unfamiliar circumstances. She was a force of nature; tough, determined, quick-witted, spunky, opinionated, dedicated, at times stubborn, at times incredibly gracious, but always deeply passionate about the people she loved, both family and union alike.

Raised Baptist, Jody was a member of Elliston Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where she also worked while raising her son, Justin. Throughout her career, she became part of countless movie sets, concerts, and Broadway productions, collecting stories and memories she loved to share. Among her favorites were Wicked on Broadway, the films Black Snake Moan and Field of Dreams, and concerts featuring Hardy, Jelly Roll, and Shaboozey. She especially loved telling stories about dressing Reba McEntire, fist-bumping Gene Simmons, and receiving a drumstick from a KISS tour performance. After long hours of hard work, Jody could often be found relaxing in a hammock strung between nearby trees, surrounded by her crew.

She was an avid collector of teddy bears and treasured little keepsakes, including the occasional rock or pebble discovered in Justin’s shoe. She had a love for animals, which is why she could never say no to the stray cat that wondered in. She enjoyed being out in the sun, whether gardening her sunflowers, hammocking, or just laying out. Jody was truly one of a kind and made herself unforgettable to everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Jody is survived by her sons, Justin Bright of Aledo, Illinois, and Jeremiah “Jesse” Newman of California; grandson, Matthew Bright; fiancé, Bob Bennington II of Aledo, Illinois; brother, Roger Lemons; niece, Amanda Lemons, whom she helped raise and loved as her own; aunt, Kitty Barlow; and many beloved fur babies. She was preceded in death by her husband, Timothy Webster; mother, Lela Broessel; and grandmother, Greta Trout.

Condolences may be shared at CremationQC.com.