Mamie H. Sapp

Mamie Hall Sapp was born to the union of Deacon Joe Lee Hall and Mary Z. Hall. She was the youngest of six children who grew up in a loving, disciplined, spiritually-centered home. Mamie came to know and love the Lord at an early age. Going to church, praying, singing in choirs were hallmark features of their family life. As the longest living member of her family of origin, her passing marks both an ending and a beginning. She was preceded in death by her loving parents and her siblings: Edgar, Joe Lee, Rosa Lee, Julia Mae, and Beatrice. Mamie’s passing closes one chapter in the Hall Family Book of Life. It opens another to their anticipated, glorious reunion in Heaven.

Mamie was educated in the public schools of Bunnell and St. Augustine, Florida. She was an excellent student who aspired to be a nurse. In high school she was active in student government and was on the girls’ basketball team despite her short stature. Mamie often shared her fond memory of crowds exclaiming “look at that little girl shoot”. Besides her athletic skills, Mamie was also a talented singer and dancer. She was known to many as the “Jitterbug Queen” and often danced with Emery, her husband of 64 years.

Mamie was a devoted wife and life partner. She met Emery B. Sapp on a bus trip to St. Augustine, Florida. They got married after she graduated high school and began their life together in St. Augustine. Emery often told others that marrying Mamie was the best thing he ever did. They loved and were devoted to each other until they were separated by Emery’s death in 2011. When their only child, Nena T. Sapp, was born, the family moved from St. Augustine to Miami.

Mamie stayed home to care for Nena until Nena started school while Emery worked as a longshoreman. Mamie entered the workforce as a domestic worker during an age when opportunities were few for people of color. However, she persevered and became a property manager for a local, Black-owned rooming house. Although she did not become a nurse, she later worked in the Central Supply/Autoclave department of a local hospital and moved up the ladder with increasing degrees of responsibility. Later still she became a residential living specialist at a school for intellectually challenged children. During her tenure at the school, she received written commendations for her professionalism and devoted care of these children. She was also lauded for her exceptional reliability and worked there dutifully for 15 years before retiring. 

After retiring, Mamie went into business for herself, selling women’s and children's clothing. She was good with numbers and quite personable.  Although industrious, she had a rather lenient payment system and so gained a large and loyal clientele! Ultimately her true aim was to be of service to others, to fulfill a need, so she thoroughly enjoyed this endeavor.

Mamie’s desire to be of service to others was particularly strong among her family and friends. Whenever she could, she helped people however she could. In addition to providing a loving and secure home for Nena, she and Emery were caregivers and support anchors for many family members. She saw the potential of education to be the great equalizer and conveyed high expectations for her loved ones. She facilitated their endeavors and was credited by many of them with helping to make their dreams come true.

Mamie’s creed has been that of living a quiet life of service to others and to the glory of God. Her legacy lives on in her grandchildren. Sydney is currently a musician and educator, living and working in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Lawrence recently graduated from Columbia Business School, works in finance, and lives with his partner, Michelle, in New York City.

She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Nena T. Sapp, grandchildren, nieces: Martina Crowley (Mikel Sr.), Dorothy Lee Williams, Sonovia Jones, Evelyn Griffin, Mary Trent Conway (Willis), Louise Walthall (Sonnie), nephews: Roosevelt Brown (Diane), Joe L. Hall (Grace), Rodney Hall (Paulette), Goddaughter, Regina Cleare Washington (Robert), friends: Dr. Alma Carrington, Barbara Kuti, Deborah Eggelletion, Bernice Shorter-Meares, Angela Taylor, Eleanor Bridges, and a host of grieving family members and friends.

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