Stephen R. Sapp

Stephen R. Sapp, 56, of Phenix City, Alabama, passed away June 13, 2025, at East Alabama Medical Center.

Stephen was born May 27, 1969, in Mobile, Alabama. He attended the Admiral Farragut Academy in New Jersey and Simsbury High School in Connecticut where he graduated in 1988.

In June of that year, Stephen enlisted in the United States Navy where he served honorably for six years. He was a Damage Controlman, a job focused on procedures to save the ship in the event of fire or other catastrophic events. During his service Stephen completed two extended deployments aboard ship including operations with the Coast Guard on drug interdiction missions. Among his awards are a National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. His last duty station was with the USS Virginia (CGN 38) based out of Portsmouth, Virginia.

After he left the Navy in 1994, Stephen moved to Columbus, Georgia to be close to family. He attended Columbus Technical College and received his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification and joined Columbus EMS in 1995. He served the community as both an EMT and paramedic until 2011.

Known as Rusty as a child, Stephen grew up in a large loving household. Like Harry S. Truman, he had no middle name, only the middle initial “R”. Stephen marched to his own drummer, was optimistic, and dealt with the substantial personal challenges of life with grace and fortitude.

Mr. Sapp is preceded in death by his parents Charles S. Sapp and Royann K. Simmons and his sister Jodie.

Survivors include his loving wife of 18 years Naomi; his child: Wyatt S. Sapp, his siblings: Brice Patterson (Ashley), Garrick Sapp, Jennifer Pitts, Lisa Cranston, Kathy Arel, Ann Hardie, and Sue Anderson (Steve) and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Stephen’s name to the Kawasaki Disease Foundation at https://kdfoundation.org/.