James Blakeney Zemp

James Blakeney Zemp “Blake” unexpectedly passed away on Sunday December 1st in Spartanburg South Carolina.

Blake was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts on October 10th, 1962, the son of the late Dr. John Workman Zemp and the late Lois DeWitt Zemp of Charleston, South Carolina. He is survived by his loving wife Sarah Elizabeth Zemp and his son Matthew Harper Zemp. Blake is also survived by his brothers John Workman Zemp Jr (Pam) of Columbia, and Louis DeWitt Zemp (Trista) of Charleston. He was predeceased by his sister Virginia DeWitt Zemp of Charleston. Additionally, Blake is survived by a son James Blakeney Zemp Jr (Katie) of Columbia, a daughter Elizabeth Ann Zemp of Charleston and many nieces and nephews - John W. Zemp III, Joseph L. Zemp, William T. Zemp, Travis M. Free, Jeremy A. Free, Elizabeth B. Howell, Saluda D. Zemp, Gracen I. Thompson, Claire McK. Zemp and Emma B. Zemp. 

Blake loved all sports and was a highly accomplished athlete during his time at College Prep where he was on multiple varsity teams, multiple team MVP’s, and a State Champion in soccer. Blake’s love of sports and being active never diminished, with basketball being his favorite form of relaxation. As an adult he was famous in the area industrial basketball league for many years. He also enjoyed tennis, being highly ranked in the state on multiple occasions. Whatever new sport Blake decided to try, he would always master it and make it look “natural”, as anyone who saw him play or played against him would confirm. Blake decided to take up running as a hobby at the age of 29 with a mission to run a sub-5-minute mile by the time he turned 30. This led to a passion for running, with many accolades including State Runner of the Year. Blake was thrilled when he discovered that the home he and Sarah had purchased in Spartanburg was in a neighborhood that was attached to the Cottonwood Trail (SPACE). He spent many, many hours running, biking and walking on the CW and latterly the River Birch and Drayton Mills extensions, enjoying two of his great passions at the same time – being active and being outdoors in nature.

Blake attended the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) where he graduated with a degree in Mathematical Sciences and secured employment with Milliken and Company before graduation. Blake spent 30 years at Milliken, first employed as a programmer in the IT department. After people began to realize he was one of the brightest minds in IT, he was always assigned to high-risk, high-profile projects. He rose through the ranks to have a very successful career, including many project leads, European IT Director, Global Director of Application, Development and Support and multiple accolades. In 2008 Blake decided he needed to be part of the SAP implementation team at Milliken. It was an incredibly challenging and rewarding time, and Blake always took pride in doing a difficult job well. What made his contribution critical was his unique ability to coax the best from people – people who were sure the deadlines were too short, the problems too difficult, and the objectives unattainable. His logical acumen along with his outstanding leadership skills and ability to roll his sleeves up were among his many talents that allowed him to have a highly successful and decorated IT career at Milliken. When Blake left Milliken in 2014, he left behind a cohort of friends and associates who agree that they were largely shaped by his leadership and influence.

Blake joined ScanSource Inc in 2014 as their CIO, with looming ‘impossible’ deadlines and an unknown team. But Blake reveled in the challenge and in his usual manner shaped the goal and vision of the IT department within ScanSource. After leaving, Blake joined MCA for a brief period to create and align their IT department with the company’s vision. There he enjoyed being in downtown Spartanburg every day and even riding his bike to work in the spring and fall. He often remarked how grateful he was for his time at MCA which allowed him to fully appreciate his hometown and how it fit him perfectly.

Blake’s sudden and unexpected passing has left his family and friends in profound shock and grief. As friends and family have received this heartbreaking news the responses have been consistent and many. Blake’s gift was that goal that all leaders strive for (and usually do not attain), he made everyone around him better. This was true in both his professional and personal life. His desire to always try to ‘do the right thing’, ‘be the best version of himself’ left a lasting impact he would never fully accept. He had an incredible sense of fairness, integrity, care for others, leadership skills, common sense, attention to details (which would often drive those around him slightly mad), ability to explain difficult topics in simple terms, uncanny ability to challenge people just beyond what they are capable of to help them grow, and the sharpest brain amongst many brilliant people. All that, coupled with a hidden enormous streak of sensitivity and self-depreciation meant that he touched many lives in a way that he could never fully appreciate.

In the summer of 2022, Blake retired from his illustrious career in IT. For the next year Blake thoroughly enjoyed his retirement, finally having the time to enjoy some of the passions closest to his heart – enjoying all forms of exercise, spending time in nature, working in his yard, reading, taking up new ‘brain skills’ – French, revisiting old ‘brain skills’ – Mathematics and spending lots of time with his wife and son.

After a year of retirement, Blake decided he needed to do something more virtuous and so investigated the path to becoming a middle school math teacher. Through a surprising series of events, he was able to join Spartanburg District 7 as an eight-grade math teacher at McCracken Middle School at the beginning of this year. Whilst his time as a teacher was brief, Blake felt truly challenged and fulfilled and he would consider this endeavor in his life amongst his greatest accomplishments.

It is evident in Matthew that Blake will live on. Blake’s sarcastic wit, giant heart and many, many talents are apparent in the ‘fine young man’ that Matthew has become.

Blake met his wife Sarah whilst on assignment for Milliken in the United Kingdom. After a brief period of dating ‘across an ocean’ Blake convinced Sarah to ‘buy a ticket’ and move to the US. They were married on June 3rd, 2005. They would often joke that they should never have met. Creating a new life with Sarah became the focal point of his life. No matter how challenging or difficult life became, he was able to tolerate everything else because of Sarah. They recently celebrated being together in the US for 20 years, an amount Blake was always commenting that it was not nearly long enough. But for Blake now they will be together always and forever.

A celebration of life for Blake will be held in the Spring – his favorite season to allow all those whose lives he impacted to join Sarah and Matthew in remembrance.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to SPACE (Spartanburg Area Conservancy), PAL (Play. Advocate. Live Well.) or by planting a noble tree.

Floyd’s North Church Street