Obituary of Ella Elizabeth Sharpe

WEST COLUMBIA-Ella Elizabeth Sharpe died on April 20, 2014 at Lexington Medical Center. She had fought against lung cancer for several months. The only child of Christian David Sharpe and Dorothy Carter Sharpe of Columbia, SC, she was born in June 1944 in Columbia. As a child she spent many days visiting family who farmed where the Food Lion now is on Sunset Blvd in West Columbia. She attended the then-called University High School on USC's campus and subsequently became a very proud 1966 graduate of Newberry College in her chosen profession of teaching. Miss Sharpe initially taught in Columbia schools and after several years she began a 32 year career at Lexington High School as an English teacher until retiring in 1998. She took great interest in the success of her students. While in the hospital, her interest in students was reinvigorated by the nursing students from Newberry College who helped attend to her. Miss Sharpe was a long time member of Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church. Ella is survived by cousins Becky Carter Brantley of Kannapolis NC and Mary Carter Simmons of Marble, NC, as well as many friends and neighbors. Special thanks go to Dr. Greg Konduros, one of her high school students who became her longtime family physician. A graveside service will be held at the family plot in the cemetery of Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church in West Columbia at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. It is suggested that memorials be made to Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church, 3011 Leaphart Road, West Columbia, SC 29169. Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC 29073 is assisting the family.