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==Death and legacy==

==Death and legacy==

Tharpe, a [[diabetic]] for the last two decades of his life, recovered from a [[stroke]] in the 1990s but died of [[congestive heart failure]].<ref name=weaver>Statement of Dr. Neal Weaver, [[Shreveport, Louisiana]], December 12, 2008</ref> Tharpe was survived by six children, all of Shreveport, Kathy T. Martin (born 1951) and husband, Charles Philip Martin (born 1949); Sharon Stevens (born 1953) and husband, Al D. Stevens; Jimmy G. Tharpe, Jr. (born 1954) and wife, Kimberly; Deborah T. "Debbye" Langley (born 1955) and husband, Gregory James Langley (born 1952); Roger David Tharpe (born 1957) and wife, the former Karen Ann Pharr, and Brenda Gayle Scott (born 1964) and husband, Paul Scott; twenty grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren, and two brothers, George Norman Tharpe (born 1932) and wife, Darlene, and Jack Donald Tharpe (born 1935) and wife, Barbara, all of Sibley. Tharpe's only sister, Bonnie Lee, died at the age of eight.<ref name=stimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/shreveporttimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=120691357|title=Obituary of Jimmy G. Tharpe, November 28, 2008|publisher=''[[The Times (Shreveport)|Shreveport Times]]''|access date=December 24, 2008}}</ref>  

Tharpe, a [[diabetic]] for the last two decades of his life, recovered from a [[stroke]] in the 1990s but died of [[congestive heart failure]].<ref name=weaver>Statement of Dr. Neal Weaver, [[Shreveport, Louisiana]], December 12, 2008</ref> Tharpe was survived by six children, all of Shreveport, Kathy T. Martin (born 1951) and husband, Charles Philip Martin (born 1949); Sharon Stevens (born 1953) and husband, Al D. Stevens; Jimmy G. Tharpe, Jr. (born 1954) and wife, Kimberly; Deborah T. "Debbye" Langley (born 1955) and husband, Gregory James Langley (born 1952); Roger David Tharpe (born 1957) and wife, the former Karen Ann Pharr, and Brenda Gayle Scott (born 1964) and husband, Paul Scott; twenty grandchildren; twenty-four great-grandchildren, and two brothers, George Norman Tharpe (born 1932) and wife, Darlene, and Jack Donald Tharpe (born 1935) and wife, Barbara, all of Sibley. Tharpe's only sister, Bonnie Lee, died at the age of eight.<ref name=stimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/shreveporttimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=120691357|title=Obituary of Jimmy G. Tharpe, November 28, 2008|publisher=''Shreveport Times''|access date=December 24, 2008}}</ref>  

Services were held on November 29 at Baptist Tabernacle. Interment followed at Forest Park West Cemetery in Shreveport.<ref name=stimes/>  

Services were held on November 29 at Baptist Tabernacle. Interment followed at Forest Park West Cemetery in Shreveport.<ref name=stimes/>  

On December 1, 1978, Tharpe was inducted into the Preacher's Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, an honor bestowed on living ministers. In the ceremony, it was noted that Tharpe "is in constant demand as a speaker all over America and in many foreign lands." Inducted along with Tharpe was Dr. [[Wendell Zimmerman]], one of the original founders of [[Baptist Bible College]] of [[Springfield, Missouri|Springfield]], [[Missouri]].<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 221-222</ref>Tharpe is also honored through the J.G. Tharpe Life Center at Baptist Tabernacle, 8501 East Kingston Road, Shreveport, LA 71118,<ref name=stimes/>One of Tharpe's grandsons, Dustin Aaron Tharpe (born 1982), became in 2008 the student pastor at Baptist Tabernacle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baptisttabernacle.net/staff.html|title=Baptist Tabernacle staff|publisher=baptisttabernacle.net|access date=December 24, 2008}}</ref>

On December 1, 1978, Tharpe was inducted into the Preacher's Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, an honor bestowed on living ministers. In the ceremony, it was noted that Tharpe "is in constant demand as a speaker all over America and in many foreign lands." Inducted along with Tharpe was Dr. [[Wendell Zimmerman]], one of the original founders of [[Baptist Bible College]] of Springfield, [[Missouri]].<ref>Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', pp. 221-222</ref>Tharpe is also honored through the J.G. Tharpe Life Center at Baptist Tabernacle, 8501 East Kingston Road, Shreveport, LA 71118,<ref name=stimes/>One of Tharpe's grandsons, Dustin Aaron Tharpe (born 1982), became in 2008 the student pastor at Baptist Tabernacle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baptisttabernacle.net/staff.html|title=Baptist Tabernacle staff|publisher=baptisttabernacle.net|access date=December 24, 2008}}</ref>

   

   

In 2003, Tharpe published his [[autobiography]] entitled ''Mr. Baptist''.<ref>Jimmy G. Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', Springfield, Missouri: 21st Century Press, 2003, 224 pp, ISBN 0-9728899-2-2</ref>

In 2003, Tharpe published his [[autobiography]] entitled ''Mr. Baptist''.<ref>Jimmy G. Tharpe, ''Mr. Baptist'', Springfield, Missouri: 21st Century Press, 2003, 224 pp, ISBN 0-9728899-2-2</ref>

[[Category:1930 births]]

[[Category:1930 births]]

[[Category:2008 deaths]]

[[Category:2008 deaths]]

[[Category:American clergy

[[Category:American clergy]]