Sharon Roberts Upton

Sharon lived with her family in Waxhaw until she was seven years old when they moved to the Paw Creek area of Charlotte. She went on to graduate from West Mecklenburg High School with the class of 1968. Shortly after graduation, she married John Stephen Upton in 1970 at St. James United Methodist Church in Charlotte. They welcomed a daughter, Melanie, and Sharon readily took on the role of devoted and involved mother. She was a Girl Scout Troop Leader, always present at parent teacher meetings, and she participated diligently in all the school fundraisers.

Sharon’s motherly instincts didn’t start and end with Melanie, though; she instinctually cared for everyone around her. She was a second mom to numerous friends of Melanie’s over the years, notably stepping up to fill the role of mother when two neighborhood friends, Justine and Danan, lost their own mother. Sharon even readily served as Justine’s legal guardian for a time.

She had a true “what’s mine is ours” mentality, always taking in those who were alone. At one time, she discovered that the man painting her house didn’t have anywhere to go, so she put him up in her guest room until he got back on his feet. She also had a soft spot for cats, especially strays, and took them in anytime she felt they needed a home. She was rarely without houseguests (or cats!), both brief and long-term visitors, and she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

In 1979, the Upton family moved to Laurinburg, and while they were there, Sharon let her passion for Christmas shine. Being a near-Christmas baby, she had a special place in her heart for the holiday. One year she had seven Christmas trees, and her home was decorated so extensively and beautifully that it became a sort of local museum, with people coming daily to tour her home.

In 1989, John’s job took the family to Rancho Murieta, CA. Sharon enjoyed California living for 16 years until 1995 when she moved back to the Charlotte area for good.

With a great curiosity for ancestry, Sharon was very proud of the fact that she could trace her lineage back hundreds of years. Her knowledge of her family tree allowed her to join the Daughters of the American Revolution, and she was quite honored to have been a descendant of the women who founded one of the first NC D.A.R. chapters.

Resilient and strong, Sharon fought cancer seven times, including two stage four cancer diagnoses that she was not expected to overcome.

She was personable, outgoing, and loud; her distinct laugh was noticed and remembered by all who heard it. Her good personality made her friends everywhere she went, and she was committed to keeping in touch with everyone she loved.

Those left to remember Sharon include her daughter, Melanie Sevier; her grandchildren, Wallace and William Sevier; her sister, Joyce Taylor; her nieces and nephews, Tammy Pope (Donald), Laura Helms (Chris), and Neil Roberts; her former husband, John Upton; as well as numerous other loving family members and dear friends.

Sharon has been reunited in Heaven with her parents, Lawrence and Avie; and her brother, Lawrence “Larry” Roberts Jr.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 2:30pm until 3:30pm on Saturday, April 2nd, 2022 at Forest Lawn West Funeral Home, 4601 Freedom Drive in Charlotte. Following the visitation, a graveside service will be held at 3:30pm at Forest Lawn West Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sharon’s name to the Cancer Research Institute or to the American Heart Association.