Alyssa Joy Webster (née Bates) (born November 9, 1994) is the sixth child and third daughter of Gil Bates and Kelly Bates.
She is the sister of Zachary Bates, Michaela Keilen, Erin Paine, Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, Tori Smith, Trace Bates, Carlin Stewart, Josie Balka, Katie Clark, Jackson Bates, Warden Bates, Isaiah Bates, Addallee Bates, Ellie Bates, Callie-Anna Bates, Judson Bates, and Jeb Bates.
She is the wife of John Webster and the mother of their children, Allie, Lexi, Zoey, Maci and Rhett.
Early life[]
Alyssa as a baby
Alyssa Joy Bates was born on November 9, 1994, in Tennessee, to Gil Bates and Kelly Bates. She was the couple's sixth child, and they went on to have thirteen more children after her.
Along with her siblings, Alyssa was homeschooled growing up. She and her siblings were raised as active participants of Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles, and regularly attended the yearly Advanced Training Institute conferences in Big Sandy, Texas.
Alyssa began preparing meals for the family at only twelve years old. She was also the family's secretary and clothes shopper.
Alyssa chose Christ when she was thirteen years old.
Alyssa was said to be especially close to her paternal grandmother, Mama Jane, as a child. She still maintains this close bond as an adult.
Personal life[]
Courting
Courtship[]
In 2012, Alyssa began working on Congressman Daniel Webster's campaign for the United States House of Representatives. It is through this campaign work that she got to know his son, John Webster, who she became attracted to.
On November 6, 2013, John took Alyssa out on a date that started at Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he gave her a necklace. They then had lunch on the porch at Rafferty's before heading to Rock City in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he asked her to enter a courtship.
Engaged
Engagement[]
On January 16, 2014, John took Alyssa out to a beach at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Realizing what was happening, Alyssa began crying, and John proposed to her. Afterwards, they took a rented car to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Orlando, Florida for dinner. Alyssa described the dinner as "the most elegant (expensive) restaurant I've ever visited".
Just married
Marriage[]
On May 24, 2014, Alyssa married John Elliott Webster at Salem Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. The wedding was officiated by Alyssa's father Gil Bates. Alyssa's maid of honor was John's sister Victoria. Her bridesmaids were her sisters Michaela, Erin, Tori, her sister-in-law Whitney, John's sister Elizabeth, and her friends Bethany Chavez and Andrea Warren. The flower girls were Alyssa's sisters Addallee and Ellie. John's best man was his brother Jordan. His groomsmen were his brothers David and Brent, his brother-in-law Joe, his nephew Jonathan, Alyssa's brother Nathan, and his friends Lewis Albright and Luke Brigham. The ring bearers were John's nephew Grant and Alyssa's brother Judson. Their wedding was featured on an episode of Nightline.
For their honeymoon, Alyssa and John went to Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Baby Allie
Motherhood[]
On November 18, 2014, Alyssa and John announced that they were expecting their first child. "We are overwhelmed with excitement to be expecting. We can't wait to welcome our precious little baby into the world." Allie Jane was born on April 11, 2015, in Florida. "We are so excited to welcome our healthy, beautiful baby girl Allie Jane into the world. We are ecstatic and grateful to receive this precious gift." She weighed 6 pounds and 11 ounces and was 21 inches long.
Baby Lexi
On September 15, 2016, Alyssa and John announced that they were expecting their second child, a girl, due January 27, 2017. "John and I are simply overjoyed with happiness. We are highly anticipating our daughter's arrival." Lexi Mae was born at 7:20 p.m. on January 26, 2017, in Florida. She weighed 6 pounds and 2 ounces.
Baby Zoey
On November 9, 2017, Alyssa and John announced that they were expecting their third child, a girl to be named Zoey Joy Webster, due April 2, 2018. Zoey Joy was born at 4:20 a.m. on March 28, 2018, in Florida. She weighed 6 pounds and was 19 inches long.
Baby Maci
On August 6, 2020, Alyssa and John announced that they were expecting their fourth child, due February 17, 2021. On September 12, 2020, they revealed that they were expecting a girl. On September 18, 2020, they revealed that they would be naming her Maci Jo Webster. Maci Jo was born at 6:00 a.m. on February 9, 2021, at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in Orlando, Florida. She weighed 6 pounds and 3 ounces, and was 18 inches long.
On September 6, 2022, Alyssa and John announced that they are expecting their fifth child, due 2023. On September 30, 2022, the due date was revealed to be April 3, 2023. On October 29, 2022, they revealed that they are expecting a boy. On February 3, 2023, they revealed that they are naming him Rhett Alan Webster. On March 18, 2023, Alyssa and John posted a photo on their Instagram stating that their son would be born that day. He was born on March 18, 2023, at 7:03 pm.
Health[]
In 2019, Alyssa was diagnosed with Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) AVNRT. She had an ablation done in April 2019, however it was unsuccessful. She had a second ablation in August 2019, which was successful.
Alyssa has been diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which is extreme sickness during pregnancy.
Career[]
Missionary work[]
Alyssa has been on mission trips to Guatemala, Peru, and Romania.
Flower shop[]
As a teenager, Alyssa worked part-time at Pots and Petals Florist in Lake City, Tennessee. She worked there up until her wedding, and put a lot of her earnings towards wedding expenses.
Johnny on the Spot Cleaning[]
Alyssa assisted her husband John with cleaning commercial buildings. They stopped doing this after Alyssa was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2019. Their work in this business was featured on the Bringing Up Bates episode "Sunshine State Bates".
Television[]
Alyssa appeared on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting many times as a teenager and young adult.
In 2012, TLC aired one season of the show United Bates of America, which focused on Alyssa's family.
In 2015, UpTV began airing a similar show, Bringing Up Bates. Alyssa was regularly featured on both shows.
Wedding involvement[]
Alyssa was a bridesmaid at her sister Erin's wedding to Chad Paine on November 2, 2013.
She was a bridesmaid at her brother Zach's wedding to Whitney Perkins on December 14, 2013.
She was a bridesmaid at her sister Michaela's wedding to Brandon Keilen on August 15, 2015.
She was a bridesmaid at her friends Andrea and Jacob's wedding on May 27, 2017.
She was a bridesmaid at her sister Tori's wedding to Bobby Smith on December 16, 2017.
She was the matron of honor at her sister Josie's wedding to Kelton Balka on October 5, 2018.
She was a bridesmaid at her sister Carlin's wedding to Evan Stewart on May 25, 2019.
She was a bridesmaid at her sister Katie's wedding to Travis Clark on December 3, 2021.
