Local NAACP Leader Dies Friday Night

A man who lead the NAACP in Chattanooga for decades passed away Friday night at the age of 87.

James Mapp was president of the Hamilton County and Chattanooga NAACP for 28 years and secretary for six.

Mapp is known for helping pave the way for the desegregation of schools in Chattanooga as well as his success as a real estate and insurance sales person.

His family remembers the man of principle that helped raise eight children with the same sense of integrity and justice at home as he brought to his advocacy work.

"My dad has always been a person of principle," said his son, James J. Mapp. "He’s always fought for social and economic justice for people of color and so I think his legacy will be that he tirelessly worked on behalf of other people who maybe didn’t have a voice, maybe didn’t have the resources, maybe didn’t have those to champion them. He was their champion."

Funeral services and visitations will take place next Friday through Sunday.