Joan Elizabeth Sapp

Joan Elizabeth Sapp, 96, went to her heavenly home on June 12, 2024. She was born in Derby, Connecticut, moved to Atlanta when she was four or five years old, then moved to Birmingham 2 years later. She was raised in the West End neighborhood of Birmingham where she met her husband, Rudy, upon his return from service during World War II. After raising their five sons in West End, they moved to Jemison, Alabama, in 1978. She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, James Rudolph Sapp Sr., mother Mary Sorrow, father Guy Sorrow, brothers Guy & Glenn Sorrow, and sister Ouida Lackey. She is survived by her five sons, James R., Jr. (Jan), Michael A. (Brenda), Donald P. (Debbie), Stephen P. (Becky) and Murray K. (Pam). She was blessed with 18 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 6 great, great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Joan was a Christian and a member of Jemison First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir for many years. After she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior she developed a hunger for the Bible and read the scriptures daily and it was her love of Jesus and of the Bible that would be her guiding light until her death.

 She would confidently tell anyone that would listen about Jesus and what he did in her life. She had a wonderful testimony and shared it as often as possible.

 Joan loved her five sons and raised them to be respectful, honest and caring men. All of her sons are Christians. Her faith and her family were her life.

A service celebrating Joan’s life will be held Sunday June 23, 2024 at 1 PM at Jemison First Baptist Church. Pastor Daniel Wilson will officiate. She is interred at Alabama National Cemetery alongside her husband Rudy.