The Rev. Harper Jerome Sasser ’50

The Rev. Harper Jerome Sasser ’50, 82, of Rossville, Ga., died at home surrounded by his family Jan. 7. A native of Durham, N.C., he was the son of Frank Matthew and Arita Harper Sasser. He grew up in Raleigh and Fayetteville, N.C. Sasser was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He attended Davidson and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Va. He also received a divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and pursued additional studies in counseling at UTC. He was a retired member of Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. He served churches in Chattanooga, Maryville, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge districts. For six years he was the executive director of the Holston United Methodist Home for Children in Greeneville, Tenn. Sasser also taught GED classes for prison inmates for several years. After his retirement in 1991, he taught English and writing at Chattanooga State for two years. He then served as minister of congregational care for 10 years at Brainerd United Methodist Church. He has chaired and served on numerous boards and committees of the Holston Conference. He was a delegate to the Jurisdictional Conference and the World Conference of Methodism. He was an Eagle Scout and was active in the Boy Scouts for many years, teaching swimming and canoeing. Sasser loved hiking and camping, especially in the Great Smoky Mountains. He served on the original camp committee for Camp Lookout and Camp Wesley Woods in Townsend, Tenn. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club for over 30 years and served as president while living in Greeneville, Tenn. Harper was an amateur musician playing the French horn, trumpet, baritone horn, and sousaphone. When he was 12 years old he started taking violin lessons and continued to play the violin throughout his life. At the time of his death, he was a member of the violin section of the Alexian Brothers Senior Neighbors Orchestra. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Ann B. Sasser, 1203 Applebrock Dr., Rossville, GA 30741-3768; children, Arita Jewart (Tom), Harper Jerome, Jr. (Gina), Thomas Henry (Diane); grandchildren, Thomas Jewart (Katie), Leigh Anne Jewart, Jeremy Sasser, Logan Sasser, Daniel Sasser, Alexander Sasser, and Dominic Sasser; brother, Frank M. Sasser (Joan); sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Gweneth and Bill Holden; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Al and Lynne Cunningham; Betsy Sasser-Hobbs; and several nieces and nephews.