Bernice McClain Sapp

August 31, 1938 - April 29, 2022

Bernice McClain Sapp, 83, August 31, 1938 - April 29, 2022 Ma Sapp, as she was lovingly called by some, led a blessed life. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to R.T. McClain and Willie Mae Stephens McClain. Her youth was spent in Louisiana, Texas, and California where she graduated from David Starr Jordan High School in Los Angeles, California. Life's journey led her to Okeechobee where she married Odist Sapp. Bernice and Odist were married for over 50 years. Bernice was a loving wife, mother, sister, cousin, niece, friend, grandmother, and great grandmother. Bernice was a hard worker and sometimes she worked in the groves with her husband, Odist Sapp. She worked for the Florida School for Boys for many years, then Okeechobee High School, then Council on Aging, and later she retired after working as a head cook for over 18 years at East Coast Migrant Head Start. She had a heart of gold and was always helping to feed and raise kids. She was always cooking and feeding someone. Bernice has been a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of Okeechobee since the 1970s. One of her favorite sayings was, "Oh, you don't believe fat meat is greasy, huh?" Her favorite songs were Something About The Name Jesus and Walk Around Heaven All Day. Mrs. Sapp was preceded in death by her husband, Odist Sapp; brothers, Billie McClain and Thomas McClain; father, R. T. McClain, Sr.; mother, Willie Mae Stephens McClain; daughter, Connie L. Thomas; son, Lee McGriff. She leaves the following behind to mourn: brother, Hardy McClain; daughters, Loraine Sapp, Mary Birts, and Patricia McGriff; son, Derrick James Hollis Sapp; grandchildren, Sache Sapp Taylor (Kyle), Brenon Brooks, Aleyana Birts, Amber Sapp, Chris Sapp, Tyler Crenshaw, Brandi Crenshaw, Jasmin Sharpe, Phalen Richmond, Jessica Richmond, and Dominique McGriff; 15 great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. **If we forgot to mention anyone, please forgive the oversight.** Visitation will be 10 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.