James Ronald Napp Sr.

     James Ronald “Ron” Napp, Sr., 77, of Citronelle, entered his heavenly home August 12, 2020 while surrounded by family after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Ron was born December 4, 1942 in Clarke County, Mississippi to Clyde Preston and Mary Smith Napp. After growing up in Semmes, Ron enlisted in the United States Navy where he served aboard the destroyer, USS Charlies P. Cecil, during the Quarantine of Cuba in 1962. Following his tour of duty in the US Navy he established a career in construction. A career he remained in until his retirement in 2008, closing a 16 year career with Vance McCown Construction.
     During his years of service with McCown, Ron oversaw the construction of numerous buildings including renovations of Providence Hospital, the Mobile FBI building, Christ Anglican Church of Mobile and numerous other commercial buildings all earning him high praise in the construction industry. While he took pride in all of his projects, it was his last build that was most special for him, the construction of St. Theresa Catholic Church of Mt. Vernon, which he came out of retirement to build. Ron was a former member of the Mobile County Sheriff’s Posse and an active member of Gulfcrest Baptist Church where he served on the building and grounds committee.
     A lifelong music lover, Ron took advantage of every moment he had to sing and play music with family and friends. Because of his love for music he served as president of the Mobile Country Music Association for 16 years, during which time he was inducted into the MCMA Hall of Fame. He took pride in the success of his children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending precious time with them sometimes fishing, hunting, remodeling and building houses and simply talking about the day over a cup of coffee.
     Ron is preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Gary Napp. Ron is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty Joyce Simmons Napp; daughters, Rhonda (Willie) Gray and Sherry (Ronald) Jordan; son, James Ronald “Ronnie” (Terri) Napp, Jr. all of Citronelle; brother Clyde (Betty) Napp of Fairview; six grandchildren, Brandon Cotton, William Gray, Crystal Cotton, Ashlee Redding, Erin Napp and James Ronald (Jay) Napp III; seven great-grandchildren, Karley, Kellan, Emmalynn, Camden, Easton, Sadie and Eli.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 15, 2020, at Gulfcrest Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service. Interment will follow in a private family cemetery located in Washington County. Pastor Willie Gray and Father John Coghlan will officiate the service.
Pallbearers are Brandon Cotton, William Gray, Jay Napp, Scott Redding, Ronald Jordan, Pete Newsome, Vance Williams and Bo Bishop

     Honorary pallbearers are Jim Landers, Michael Waltman, Fred Banks, Lee Caylor and Ray Wiggins.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Citronelle Police Department for “body cameras” at The First Bank of Citronelle or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Services were under the direction of Valhalla Memorial Funeral Home, Semmes.