Margaret Ryan Sharp

December 7, 1928 — September 1, 2023

Margaret Ann Ryan Sharp, age 94, passed away on Friday evening, September 1, 2023, at Centennial Hospital, Nashville, with family members by her side.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas P. Sharp, and her son Charley Sharp; her parents, Joseph Linus Ryan and Julia Margaret Bradley Ryan; her sister and brother-in-law Dorothy Jean Ryan Schneider and Jules Schneider; her nephew George Schneider; and her granddaughter-in-law Jennifer Gale Cook (David) Sharp. She is survived by eight of her nine children: Tom (Mary) Sharp, Jr., Robert (Mary Ann Fischer) Sharp, Judy Sharp (John) Ribar, Joe (Tricia) Sharp, Andy (Sheryl) Sharp, Evelyn “Ebbie” Sharp (Jim) Redwine, Mark (Jennifer) Sharp, and Cathy Sharp (Dan) Zoladz.

Margaret also leaves behind many bereaved Coode, Daue, Luster, Schneider, Sharp, and Shelton nieces and nephews, as well as 20 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, each one of whom she treated with special attention, love, and regard: grandchildren, Christy Sharp (Greg) Lembo, David (Maureen) Sharp, Melissa Sharp (Duane) Goin, Sam Sharp, Emily (Brian McCray) Sharp, Margaret (Jesse Seitel) Sharp, Kim Sharp (Flavio) Arandi, Nora Sharp, Phillip (Emily) Sharp, Chris (Elizabeth) Redwine, Kristen Sharp (Alex) Shelton, Frank Zoladz, Thomas Ribar, Julia Sharp (Phillip) Becker, Sarah Sharp (Cory) Elliott, Kevin Zoladz, Anthony “A.J.” Sharp, Anna Sharp, Leah Redwine, and Lauren Zoladz; and great-grandchildren, Claire Sophia Sharp, Ryan Paul Lembo, Christine Lynne Goin, Maria Ann Lembo, James David Goin, Katherine Marie Lembo, Alexa Christine Lembo, Abraham Linus Seitel, Miller Flavio Arandi, Mabel Jean Sharp, Callahan Thomas Sharp, Oliver Drew Shelton, Ryan Jane Redwine, Roza Cian Seitel, Evelyn Dean Sharp, and James Forrest Becker.

A native of Nashville, Margaret was a graduate of Saint Bernard Academy. In 1948 she married her high school sweetheart, Tom Sharp, and together they settled in Christ the King parish, where their children attended school and where she was active in many parish programs and Catholic ministries. Margaret and Tom moved to Brentwood in 1999 and joined Holy Family parish, where she continued her devotion to her faith and was involved in RCIA, Room in the Inn, and Cursillo, among other ministries. She was also known as an ardent and dedicated participant in 15 years of bible studies.

Before her younger children even left home, Margaret—sorely regretting that she was never able to attend college—entered the workforce as a realtor, and she later spent 20 years working at Dialysis Clinic, Inc. Like all the members of her extended family, Margaret’s friends and coworkers recognized her remarkable memory for birthdays and other important life events, a gift that stayed with her even to the end of her own life, as evident in the countless cards and letters—and yes, Facebook messages—she sent them.

Visitation will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9100 Crockett Road, Brentwood, Tennessee, on Thursday, September 7, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Visitation will also be held on Friday morning, September 8, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Funeral mass will begin at 11:00 am, with Father Joe McMahon presiding. Interment and committal service will follow at Calvary Cemetery, 1001 Lebanon Pike, Nashville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy Convent, 2629 Pennington Bend Road, Nashville, TN 37214, and to Father Ryan High School, 700 Norwood Drive, Nashville, TN 37204.