James Louie Barratta, 61, of Pooler, Georgia, passed away on August 14, 2023, at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah.
Born on September 20, 1961, he grew up in Richmond Hill, Georgia, and was a 1979 graduate of Richmond Hill High School. Known to many as “The Bug Man”, he owned and operated his pest control business for many years. His favorite pastime was going on cruises.
James is preceded in death by his parents, Milton, Sr. and Sallie Barratta, and two brothers, Milton, Jr. and Ormond.
He is survived by his siblings Louise Dove of Ft. Pierce, FL, Velinda Burnsed of Pooler, Nicholas A. (Lisa) of Ellabell, and Cecilia Stender (Scott) of Richmond Hill and his two stepchildren Timothy Olivier of Maryland and Courtenay Yeager of North Carolina.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 19 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Richmond Hill.
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Beverly Clark
Dear family of James. I was saddened to hear of his death. He can rest now and his family knows he’s at rest. I love you’ll.
Lisa shrewsbury
Cheri I am so sorry to hear about your boyfriend James. I remember when you had this pic made of him. Y’all was so in love with each other. I was so glad I got to speak to James while you was with him. He very nice persons. Rest in peace James. Cheri be strong my friend until y’all meet again.
cheri
Lisa my sweet friend. You have been here for me for so many losses. Yes, this was our last cruise in this picture. He enjoyed talking to you. he said you were a nut (in a good way) Glad you got to speak with him to. Trying to be strong but it’s hard.
Martha Stansbury
To the family iam sorry for your loss. And especially to Cheri Svitak. To have love and lost it once is hard. But to face it twice is something unimaginable. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
cheri
Martha, I do know you understand the 1st part when Joe died. I am glad you found Jerry. My James was your Jerry. Yes, facing it twice is unbearable. I stayed with James on and off for 8 months. I was there most of the time. I have a lot of items there I cannot have but one thing I have nobody can take away is memories. I also have a voicemail from him that will always ston my phone, right under Dan’s message. I’ll send it to you. I want you to see how sweet he was.
Norma Royals
My heart goes out to you, Cecilia.
I pray for your peace. I am here for you ( you know that).
Rick
Cheri, I am sorry for your loss. James talked about you when ever i saw him.
i want you to know he loved you. He was a friend and will be missed.
Melissa Clark Dunwody
Cecelia and Nick I am so very sorry to hear about James. I remember fondly the crazy times we had growing up.
Much love and prayers for comfort at this time.
Melissa Clark Dunwody
Rhonda Abrams
I am sorry and shocked to hear of James passing. I met you and Cheri last March on the Mardi Gras. My condolences to your lady love Cheri and and family. Praying for peace for all. R.I.P.
Rhonda Abrams
Amanda Kirk
Cheri I am so sorry for you have lost your James. I know he knew you loved him very much! And he loved you just as much! I’m so glad you’ll have the memories of all the adventures that you two had together. He will always be with you in your heart. We are here if you need anything.
My condolences to his family.
The Langos Family
Cecilia,
We’re so very sorry for your loss. Our family will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Jackie Hine
Cheri, Tim and Courtenay ….words can not express the loss my family is feeling right now..Cheri, I am also sorry that you were left out as his significant other, because he was head over heels in love with you…as he alway said and we will say to him…Good Nite and Sweet Dreams and trust me, the Red Balloons will go up in Oklahoma Saturday in his honour. ❤💔🙏
Cheri
Thank You Jackie. Believe me, I loved him just as much. It don’t bother me no more I was left out. I have the best memories of him for almost 2 years. I have things that means the world to me. One is his voicemail on my phone. His pictures on my phone and computer. Hundreds and hundreds of messages between the 2 of us. We all know I was hid girlfriend for 8 months. When I miss him, I listen to my voicemail, Look at our pictures together and read our messages. Thank You so much for your kind works Jackie.
Ashley Clark
I remembered James well. My older brothers grew up with he and Nick. My condolences to the family.
Mike
James my friend. I heard of your
Passing from our cruise group. If anyone deserves a place In heaven, it will be. I will miss your Witt. It was a pleasure brother knowing you and meeting your girlfriend. Cheri, know I am sorry. You and James fit together and I could see how happy you were. Cheri, you are a wonderful person and will see Your love one day. My condolences Cheri
James Fulwood
My condolences to the Barratta family. I was a classmate of James and we share the same first names. Rest in Peace.
Class of 79
Peggy
My condolences Cheri. Seeing you together showed the love you had for one another. I am sorry for your loss. If it comforts you, James loved you and his step kids more than anyone. Your love will be waiting for you one day.
Tina
Oh Cheri, I am so sorry for your lost. I was on the Celebration with you and James. I have cruise with him many times. James worsted you, do know that.
Jonathon
I am in your upcoming cruise. I saw your girlfriends post. I was looking forward to meeting you both tomorrow. Cheri, I would like to meet with you and buy you a drink and talk. I am here for you if you need to talk. God Bless You. Cheri and James, you are in my prayers.
Diane and Jensen
James and Cheri,
I met up with you today Cheri. It was nice reminiscing about James with you. We have been on many Elite cruises with him. We met you on the Celebration last year with James. He was kind and funny. I am Sorry Cheri about your loss. I can see how bad you miss him.
Diane and Jensen
Herb Hilderbrand
I just found out today about James passing away. We have been friends since our days of working together at Derst Baking Co. He has been my bug man for a long time. When he hadn’t called about coming to spray, I called his number but didn’t get him of course. My wife and I were concerned so I Googled him and saw the obituary. I am shocked and very saddened over his passing. I considered him to be a close friend. He will be missed personally and professionally. I wish I had known about it.
Cheri
Herb, my name is Cheri. I have known James a year and a half and we have been dating 8 months. He was an amazing. James biggest fear in this world was that he would be forgotten. I assured him he would never be forgotten. People like me and his customers (who he considered friends) will always keep his memory alive. I am so lost without him.
Shannon & Michael Martin, Angelyn Brown and Sharon Addison
It is with much sadness to hear of James (Bugman as we called him) passing. I was just reaching out to him yesterday to get a date as to when he was coming this month and when he didn’t reply I knew something was wrong. My entire family is in shock right now. Praying for your strength, as I just lost my sister in July. Though the heart is heavy we all will get through this pain.
Cheri
Hi,
My name is Cheri. I knew James for 18 months. We started out as friends. We had been dating the last 8 months. He was a good man with many friends, more than he knew. James biggest fear was dying and being forgotten. I assured him as long as I was alive, that won’t happen. By comments. His customers (friends) won’t let that happen too. Thank You for
Remembering him too.
Lynda Beebe
I have JUST learned of James’s passing. I have known him for many years as he came to my parents home and for the past almost 30 years, my home to spray.
He was a kind man! My deepest condolences to his family!
Donna Thomson
James was such a sweet, quiet but fun loving guy who was so excited to talk about his next upcoming cruise. He would spray our house on 1st of the month like clockwork. We surely will miss him! He use to tell me my schnauzer never barked at him if we were not home but if I was here she would growl and follow James around the house and he never acted like he minded. He’s even asked for a treat to give her. Such a great man! Praying for peace for family!
Curtis & Donna Thomson
Jerry and Mary Alice Hendrix
Jerry and I have been knowing and loving
James for better than forty years. Such a kind, caring, Christian gentleman. Always concerned about you and your family. We had been calling for several weeks leaving
Messages……. Yesterday, September 17th
We decided to ride to his home. At first glance, things looked still and quiet.
After conversing with a neighbor we
Heard the news of his hospitalization
And heart failure. We we’re saddened
But knowing his life was happy, full
Of friends and a new found love, we have to be happy he is in Heaven with no pain
And a new body.
Family, know that we will continue to keep you close in prayer.
Jerry and Mary Alice Hendrix
Cheri
Jerry and Mary, I come here sometimes and read all the nice things about James. James had a massive heart attack on August 3rd. I can’t forget the date, it’s my daughters birthday. He passed on the 14th. I am still so heartbroken. I lost my husband 3 years before this. James LOVED all his customers. I spent more time in Pooler Ga. then I did at my home in NC. He was my friend first for about 18 months. Last 8 months he was my boyfriend. God only gave us love for 8 months and it was the best 8 months ever.
Andrea Morris
Tears came to my eyes this morning when my husband showed me this. I didn’t realize who it was by the picture, as I’ve never seen him without a hat on and bug sprayer in his hand.
James “The Bug Man” has been at our house spraying every month for many years. He was always cheerful, with a story to tell about his latest or upcoming cruise. During our (often 20 to 30 minute) conversations, he’d ask how we were, and truly wanted to know. If it had been a bad month, he would ask us if things were better the next time he came. He remembered our conversations well and was genuinely concerned about our well being.
I’d always have a smile on my face by the time he left the house, regardless of how good or bad my morning may have been. The 1980’s gold chain around his neck made me laugh inside – he knew it, and wore it proud. I could go on and on, but I will stop here. This family has lost a true friend and he will be missed.
Enjoy the cruises in Heaven James, we look forward to hearing about them one day.
With love, Chris and Andrea
Cheri
Andrea, I am Cheri, James girlfriend of 8 months. You made me smile about his gold chain. This Picture was about 3 months on our cruise. He did clean up nicely. Today is James Birthday. I miss him more than words can say. He loved everyone of his customers!!!
Andrea G Morris
Thank you Cheri,
He started saying there was “someone” but hadn’t gone into detail. I’m so sorry you had such a short time with him, and thank you for showing him “cleaned up”. It looks as if he “wore that proud” as well. So beautiful to see.
He’s been our bug man for over 20 years, so him not being here each month is will be very hard to get used to. Now, every time I see a bug in the house I think of him, thanks James! Kind of gross I know, but he had a great sense of humor. He’s probably laughing at me right now.
I keep you and the rest of his family in my prayers,
Andrea
Cheri
I have to reply back because of what you said about the bug and you will think of him. A few months ago I was going to take a shower. There was a BIG bug in the shower. Palmetto bug if its spelled right. I screamed for James. He came running asking what’s wrong. I told him there was a huge bug in the bathtub upside down and its feet were moving. He looked at me seriously and said “I’m off duty” and walked off. He did come back with a dustpan and broom.
Kaye
I am reading through all of the comments, and amid tears, I had to laugh out loud at your comment. James sprayed our home for 30+ years. He was like a family member and is still sorely missed. He was extremely reliable and when he didn’t show up to spray I knew something was terribly wrong. I had to Google James the bug man to eventually find out what happened! I have a small cotton plant on the patio and often times when I water it I call it “James cotton plant”. He was so excited when I told him I had planted the seed and explained the various stages of the flower. When I got his voice message via his business phone in 2023, I recorded it so I could keep it as well. He is still missed and I’m so sorry for your loss.
Cheri
James, I wanted to come by and wish you A Happy Heavenly Birthday. We were supposed to go out and celebrate it today. Babe I miss you so much. I sent you a message with our balloon. I hope
You at celebrating with your Mom. I Love You Babe!!!
Andrea G Morris
❤️
Vicki Carter
James has been spraying my houses since the mid 80’s – he came to Georgetown, then Whitmarsh Island and for the last 21 years to Effingham. I knew something was wrong when I did not hear from him and am shocked he is gone. I am so sorry for your loss. Cheri, he did mention you and showed me pictures when he was last here, probably right before he passed. He was happy, I know that. He will be missed.
Cheri
Thank You Vickie. I rode on a lot of jobs with him to keep him company. I told his brother where his customer lists were so they wouldn’t think he ran off on them. He loved his customers. The way he talked, they were More Like friends. I’m glad he mentioned me to you. I was purposely left out of his obit but by people
On here, they knew me and knew James and I were perfect for each other. He even met 3 of my 4 kids. I have 8 grandkids and he met most of them. I Love James so much and miss him like crazy.
April Malatesta
I’m so sorry to hear this. James was always an extremely nice guy. He has been my Bug Man for years. He always had good recipes to share.
Cheri
James loved to cook. I loved that because I hate cooking. He Cooked and I cleaned. I was just sitting here thinking about him. I am wearing a shirt he had designed for me. Her had my name Put on the back. I have had I swear over 30 people say …Hi Cheri lol. I looked up at the sky and said…James, I hope you’re laughing at this. He was an amazing guy.
Kristin Lee
Oh my goodness. I was just checking why I hadn’t heard from James for two months, and I found this. I am just shocked. He was our Bug Man for 20 years, and many years before that he sprayed my late husband’s home on Gordon Street. I consider him a good friend. He gave me advice on family and personal matters, and also gave me excellent ideas for cute recipes. I will miss his presence in my life. And I wish a peace to come upon all of his family and friends who are grieving his loss. But I think now he is on the best cruise ever in heaven. May light perpetual shine upon him.
Cheri
Hi Kristin. I am sorry you found out this way. I’ve k own him just over 18 months and we dated 8 months. I wasn’t allowed to go in and get my things. I told his brother where all his clients numbers were. I asked him to call them because I didn’t want people to find out this way. I lost the most amazing man. I love him so much and miss him every single day. He had a massive heart attack august 3rd, my daughters birthday. I was on a cruise when it happened. We were talking thru messenger. He wouldn’t call 911. I never knew he had sisters. Never talked about them and it mad because if they talked, she could if called 911. I found out she lives 5 minutes from him. I hung up and FaceTimed my daughter in NC. I gave her all James info and Told them how to get in. He died on the 14th. James aNd I had a cruise planned 5 days later. If you ever want to talk. You can find my name on his FB. After James died, my doctor upped my medicine for my depression and PTSD. Losing 2 men in 3 years is unbearable for me. When I miss James to I play his
Voicemail to me and look at our
Pictures. Sorry this is so long but I LOVE him so much
Cheri
Amy Growe
I am so sorry – I loved James – he was always ready to have good talks. I looked forward to our every meeting time. I will now look forward to seeing him in heaven. Love, Amy and Ruby on Goebel Ave