James Eddie “Shug” Sapp, 90, of Blackshear, passed away Sunday morning, April 5, 2026, at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House in Waycross, following an extended illness.
Born January 11, 1936, in Hoboken, he was a son of the late Arthur Allen and Azalee Shuman Sapp. He lived most of his life in Pierce County and was a veteran, joining the United States Navy in 1956 and served honorably for four years and served on the same ship with his brother, Robert. He retired as a job steward from the carpenter’s union at Plant Hatch in Baxley.
For years, he attended St. John’s United Methodist Church and was faithful in Sunday school and church, coming early and attended his brother, Allen’s Sunday School class. For the past several years, he attended the Primitive Baptist Church and joined Enon Primitive Baptist Church this year.
He had a God-given talent for growing a garden and shared his bounty of squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and more with family, friends, and neighbors and those at church. He did the same with his fruit trees including grapefruit, oranges, and kumquats. He also had blueberry bushes and grapevines, but you had to do your own picking for those.
He had another God given talent of making beautiful walking sticks and coat racks for several family members and friends. He would go out in the woods and find just the right tree or limb and would scrape the bark off and finish it beautifully. Giving them all away, he never charged anyone for his talented work.
Some of his passions for collecting were knives, fishing lures, and electrical glass transmitters. He kept everything beautifully displayed in a glass showcase and on the wall above it.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Talmadge James “T.J.” Roberson; a sister, Clara Jo Sapp; four brothers, Robert (Elouise) Sapp, Allen Sapp, Carl (Ruthie) Sapp, and Earl (Barbara) Sapp and the mother of his children, Minnie Lanell Beverley Sapp.
Survivors include his children, Brenda Darnell Sapp and Rita Suzanne White (husband Jimmy), both of Blackshear; four grandchildren, Brandon (Katie) Sapp, Tyler Roberson, James (Courtney) Harper and Joshua (Terissa) Clark, 13 great-grandchildren, Lexi Smith, Ashton Roberson, Adrian Roberson, Trent Roberson, Trinity Roberson, Aaden Sapp, Alexander Sapp, Christian Harper, Kaylee Harper, Alec Clark, Dominic Clark, Isabella Clark and Sofia Clark; a brother, Raymond (Lori) Sapp of Blackshear; a sister-in-law, Linda Sapp, Blackshear and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, April 8, from the chapel of Hart Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Thigpen officiating.
Interment will follow in the St. John’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, GA 31501.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.
Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
