Bess (Blackwood) Tapp

Bess Blackwood Tapp, 84, a beloved mother and grandmother passed away Sunday, July 6, 2025, after a brief illness. Born August 8, 1940, to the late Seaton Blackwood and Buena Mangum Blackwood Sparrow in Orange County, North Carolina. Bess’ loved her church and served in numerous ways throughout her life with most recently as a faithful prayer warrior for her church and community. She was known for her creative talents in making wedding cakes, pound cakes, fried apple pies, and chicken biscuits. She was equally talented behind a sewing machine designing anything from a simple skirt to a wedding dress. She was passionate about her annual mission trips working with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP) addressing substandard housing in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. She started planning the next trip as soon as they returned each summer.

Bess is survived by her children Lisa (Chuck) Daley and Stan (Young-Suk) Tapp and two grandchildren which were her pride and joy, Eric Tapp and Brittany Daley as well as numerous extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Seaton Blackwood and Buena Mangum Blackwood Sparrow.

A celebration of life will be held at Orange Chapel Global Methodist Church, 1634 Orange Chapel Clover Garden Church Road, Chapel Hill, NC with the Rev. Cory Oliver presiding on August 8, 2025 at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in her memory to the Appalachia Service Project 4523 Bristol Highway Johnson City, TN 37601, or Orange Chapel Global Methodist Church, 1634 Orange Chapel Clover Garden Church Road Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Tapp family.