Obituary of O'Neil Sharpe

WEST COLUMBIA: Rev. Jacob O'Neil Sharpe, 83, passed away on April 4, 2012, in Heartland Nursing Home after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's for over 5 years. He spent most of his life up to this time in the service of the Lord, pastoring Baptist churches in South Carolina, Capital View, Columbia; Matlock, Jackson; Dixiana, West Columbia, High Hill, Darlington; Laurel, West Columbia; Lighthouse, West Columbia; North Carolina, Long Shoals, Georgia, Glyndale Baptist, and Florida, First Baptist Macclenny. The visitation will be at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2012. The funeral service will be at Trinity Baptist Church, Cayce, SC, at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 7, 2012, conducted by Rev. Donald P. Davis, with interment in Southland Memorial Gardens Cemetery in West Columbia. Rev. Sharpe was a loving and caring husband, Daddy, Papa, son, brother and friend. He enjoyed talking about times in years gone by. He loved people, spent many hours praying for everyone who came to mind, was ready to go for anyone in need. Even though he did not drive for the last 4 years, he was taken to see family and friends at home, in Nursing Homes and checked on others by telephone. He was a friend to everyone. He graduated from Swansea High School, where he was valedictorian of his class, The University of South Carolina and attended Louisville Baptist Seminary in Kentucky and took classes at the Lutheran Seminary in Columbia. He retired from full-time pastoring in 1993, but continued to pastor a mission church in Rolling Meadows Mobile Home Park for 17 years, sponsored by Trinity and Dixiana Baptist churches. He retired from Lexington School District II, and Riverbanks Zoo after 14 years in 2009. Rev. Sharpe is survived by his devoted wife, Joyce, of 60 years, 3 precious daughters, Vickie Hickman (Vic), Terri Barton (Ed), Tami Galloway (Harold), two special additions, Kelly Alcorn and Kenneth Roberts (Robyn) son, Cory, 6 beautiful grandchildren, Dylan, Hannah, and Ivey Barton, Caroline Hickman, Gabriel and Savanna Galloway; brother, Jay Sharpe (Gloria), sisters, Merle Butler, Kathryn Gunter, Evelyn Chavis (Harold), step-mother, Willie Mae Spence, sister-in-laws, Doris Stevens (Joe), Kay Alford, Mary Thigpen, Esther Thigpen and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his Daddy, Haston Sharpe, Mother, Alice Sharpe and sister, Mary Sharpe. Serving as pallbearers will be sons-in-law; Vic Hickman, Ed Barton, Harold Galloway, grandsons; Dylan Barton and Gabriel Galloway and family friend, Brian Alcorn. Honorary pallbearer's will be Trinity Senior Men's Sunday School Class of Trinity Baptist Church. We would especially like to thank our daughters and their families and all our family and friends who supported us through this journey. A special thank you to the Care Givers at Oak Leaf Village of Lexington and Heartland Nursing of West Columbia and Heartstrings Hospice for their special care for the last 2 years. The family will be at the home, 2230 Orangeburg Road, Lexington.