Richard L. Sharp

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013 at Byrd Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Jerry Grandstaff officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home on West Main Street directing. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 12:30 – 1:45 pm Sunday prior to the memorial service.

Mr. Sharp was born in Decatur, AL to parents Emery Daniel Sharp and Alice Davis Sharp, attended Morgan County schools, Jacksonville State University, and after accepting God’s call to the ministry, graduated from Howard College (now Samford University). An Army veteran of WWII, Richard married Lorene Sellers of Decatur, AL on December 19, 1942 and they were married for over 65 years. Reverend Sharp served as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Columbiana, Liberty Hill Baptist in Clanton, South Highlands Baptist in Tuscaloosa, Grandview Baptist in Dothan, Hillsdale Baptist in Centerpoint, Westmead Baptist in Decatur, Selma Baptist in Dothan, and Pleasant Plains Baptist in Columbia before retiring after fifty years in the ministry. Reverend Sharp loved the ministry and treasured such wonderful memories of each church that he served. Golfing with his “preacher buddies” brought so much joy and pleasure to Richard. He and Lorene formed such strong and lasting relationships with fellow ministers, and their devotion to those relationships has always been a wonderful example to the family.

The love of his life was Lorene Sharp, something all family members and friends alike knew and respected. Lorene served along side Richard, and together they were servants used by God to love and help so many families through the fifty years of ministry. Their two daughters and son want to express their deepest appreciation for the blessing of growing up in a family of two wonderful Christian parents.

Preceded in death by his parents, his brother James, and sister Mary Alice, Richard is survived by daughters, Sue Williams of Tuscaloosa, AL and Gale Helms of Macon, GA and son, Danny Sharp (Vicky) of Dothan; grandchildren Rhonda Goins (Bubba), Laura Ryan (Dave), Jason Sharp (Amy), Andrew Sharp (Jaime), Shane Helms, Doug Helms, Todd Helms, Jo Helms, Ryan Hendrix, Rachel Hendrix (Gabe), Rhett Hendrix (Hilary-Rose); great-grandchildren Ashley and Alex Goins; Reid, Jackson, and Carson Ryan; Bauer, Anna Ryan, Andi, Tyler, Charli, and Lucy Sharp; Samuel and Ezra Hendrix; Leighann, Amber, Coty, Nichole, Caleb, Austin, Kaylee, Hunter, Anisley, and Jarredd Helms; special friend Sandy Davis.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Bubba Goins, Dave Ryan, Jason Sharp, Andrew Sharp, Ryan Hendrix and Rhett Hendrix.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be pastors in the Columbia Baptist Association.