Bertha Mae Sapp

Bertha Mae Sapp departed this life on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at her home in Middleburg, FL. Bertha was born in Alachua, Florida to Bertha Young and Moses Fleming, Sr. She was the fourth of seven children. The family’s livelihood was derived from working on turpentine camps. The family settled in Hugh (aka Kansas City). Bertha attended school there and graduated from eighth grade, which was the highest grade for Blacks at that time.

In 1949 after a short courtship, she married Fred Lee Sapp, Sr. The union was blessed with five sons and two daughters. Bertha and Fred reared their children on the Brinson turpentine camp, until they moved to “The Hilltop” in February of 1964.

Bertha loved to sew and cook. She made a career of cooking and worked 25 years as a cook at Moosehaven in Orange Park, FL. Due to a health issues she stopped cooking and continued to work as a laundress.

After receiving the gift of “The Holy Ghost,” in 1968. She never looked back. Bertha went on to become an ordained Pentecostal Pastor, under the tutelage of Elder Richard Hines at Community Holiness House of Refuge. Pastor Sapp was a member of New Hope for the Lost Christian Fellowship, Sr. Pastor Terry Suggs. If you knew Pastor Sapp, you experienced the epitome of unconditional love and the power of prayer, she lived it daily. If you came to her house with a problem/issue her answer was always the same. She would listen, then say, “let’s take it to God”. Prayer followed for you and with you. Then lastly anointing with oil. That “Blessed Oil” was like her super power.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents Moses Fleming, Sr. and Bertha Young, her beloved husband, Fred Lee Sapp, Sr., children; Fred Lee Sapp, Jr., Johnnie Sapp (stillborn), Ezzard C. Sapp, Sr., Karene C. Godbolt and Anthony R. Sapp. Her older sister, Mamie Jones and brothers; Moses Fleming, Will Brown, Curtis Brown and Clarence Brown.

She leaves to mourn her passing; daughter, Queen E. Williams (widow); son, Azell Sapp both of Middleburg, FL and her older sister, Rutha Mae Hayes (Orange Park, FL). 13 grandchildren, a host of great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many loving friends. “The babies” as she affectionally called them, Tony “TG” Jefferson and Khadijah Means.

A viewing will be held Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 10:00 a.m. both at Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073. 

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