Edgar M. Shipp

Edgar Mitchell Shipp was born on August 30, 1911, in Talbot County, Georgia.¹ By 1940 he lived in Columbus, Georgia, and worked as a carpenter for a construction company.²

Shipp began working at the White House as a carpenter during Harry S. Truman’s presidency.³ He continued to work there until he retired in 1967 during Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency, having risen to carpenter foreman, or manager of the carpenter shop. During his tenure at the White House, Shipp worked in the carpenter’s shop located in the basement of the Residence. He and his team constructed and repaired furniture, display cases, and other items for use onsite, and took on other tasks as needed including laying tile, installing windows and doors, repairing floors and locks, and more. Chief Usher J.B. West mentioned in his memoir that Shipp and the other carpenters modified a small stage placed in the State Dining Room during State Dinners hosted by President John F. Kennedy; Shipp and his team helped make the stage mobile so that it could be quickly wheeled in and out of the room as needed.⁴

Shipp retired in 1967 due to arthritis.⁵ He moved back to Talbot County, Georgia where he was a member of Olive Branch United Methodist Church of Talbotton and belonged to the Talbotton Olive Lodge No. 10 fraternal organization.⁶ Shipp passed away on April 14, 1972, and was buried in Talbotton City Cemetery in Georgia.⁷