James Earl Sledge

On October 11, 2025, God called home one of his biggest fans, James Earl Sledge of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Born March 8, 1938, in Theodore, Alabama, he grew up in Baker, FL. He was the beloved son of the late Amack and Camilla Sledge.

Deak, as he was affectionately known by his family, had a journey on this earth in his later years that was marked by love, compassion and unwavering faith in God. He could and would speak for hours on end about the love he had for God and how he was a man after God’s own heart.

Deak was one of the best "Paint & Body" men throughout northwest Florida for fifty-plus years. He loved his family, friends and serving God all day, every day!  Sharing God’s word was one of his favorite things to do, along with going to church, singing in the choir, playing his guitar and being part of the prison ministry. While in his younger years, he was pretty quiet but, once he renewed his relationship with God, it was impossible to keep him quiet! He was happiest sharing God's word with anyone who would listen, especially about “how his life was a mystery and hard for people to understand”!

Deak is survived by his children, Emanuel of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Carlette of Georgia, Beverly of Atlanta, GA and Lincoln (Dawn) of Laurel Hill, FL; siblings, Ruth McDonald of Crestview, FL, Jerry of Lakeland, FL, and Phyllis Dawson of Baker, FL; fifteen grandchildren; twenty great-grands; one great-great grand; and close friend and mother of his children, Norma; along with many other family and friends.

In addition to his parents, Deak was preceded in death by one sister, Coramack and two brothers, Willie Thomas and Nathaniel, Sr.

He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

A celebration of his life will be held on October 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Lebanon Baptist Church, 1288 Washington Avenue, in Baker, FL. Minister Sledge will be officiating the service.  

We invite all who knew and loved him to join us in celebrating his life.

In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to honor Deak’s legacy by renewing or seeking a relationship with God, seeking out knowledge and pushing beyond the boundaries of the known and sharing these insights with others.  This, we believe, would be the best tribute to his life.