Julia Ruth Brame Sharp

Julia Ruth Brame Sharp December 8, 1931 – December 18, 2017 Julia Ruth Brame Sharp, dearly beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend of many, passed away December 18, 2017. She was born December 8, 1931, the firstborn to the late Kermit David and Ethel Barnes Brame. She thrived in her loving Christian home and with the Barnes and Brame cousins who were close and fellowshipped frequently as an extended family. She loved her Rock Ridge community and lived there all her life. She lived her 86 years sharing sweetness and kindness with everyone she met. The peace you felt in her presence began when you first looked into her sparkling blue eyes. She beautifully embodied the fruit of the spirit. Julia was genuine, gracious, kind, polite, appreciative, endearing, gentle, and the quintessential southern belle. She was also strong willed and tough as nails with strength to endure more pain than most without complaint. Her Christian faith and love for the Lord was most important to her. Julia loved her church family and community family and they loved her right back. During her physical struggles in recent years, she trusted God to see her through and assured her family that any outcome He planned would be good because He is good. Through her church she was a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, Ladies Circle member, Women’s Missionary Union leader, and participant in any opportunity for service to others. Julia volunteered when her children were young at Rock Ridge School as a Grade Mother, PTO leader, and parent helper for special activities whenever needed. Julia was a devoted wife, supporting and contributing to the growth and development of Sharp Farms, Inc. She delighted in supporting graduating seniors at Hunt High School through the Thad and Julia Sharp Leadership Scholarship. As her husband served on the Corporate Board for the Heritage Bank; the Board of Directors for Triangle East Healthcare Services; Board of Directors for WilMed Corporation; Board of Trustees for Area L Health Education Center (AHEC); District Supervisor Wilson Soil & Water Conservation; and Board of Trustees for Wilson Memorial Hospital; she was there with him every step of the way. Julia attended local, state, and national meetings, conferences, and conventions with him and made many lifelong friends through these endeavors and many other civic and social events. She found joy in entertaining and providing dinner parties for his fellow board members and their spouses. She was happiest when surrounded by her cherished family, and in earlier years when she was able, enjoyed sharing and supporting them in their activities. She attended athletic events, school functions, theater performances and dance recitals with grandchildren always cheering them on, encouraging their hearts and their minds. Julia had the gift of making everyone feel they were so special. She was excited to travel, and when any opportunity presented, her comment was “my bags are already packed.” She did everything with elegance, grace and perfection. She doted over her flower gardens in the yard and had plans for beautifying every season. She was a detail oriented master decorator and designer which led her to taking floral arranging classes through which she improved her natural skills of making beautiful silk and fresh arrangements. She enhanced everything she touched. She loved hosting parties and showers and many have enjoyed the tales told around the punch bowl in her home. Christmas was her favorite time of the year celebrating the birth of Jesus and leaving no spot in her home without a gorgeous Christmas decoration. She provided a loving home for her family and took advantage of every opportunity to prepare lavish meals for them which were always completed with her famous pecan pie. She showed love in many different ways but preparing food to bring her family around the table and gifting home baked treats to others were her special ways of loving. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Thaddeus Pender Sharp, Jr.; sons, Thaddeus Pender Sharp III (Debbie) and Alan David Sharp (Debbie); daughter, Julia Ann Sharp Davis (Mike); grandchildren, Thad Sharp IV (Donna), James Sharp (Courtney), Brandon Sharp, Daniel Sharp and friend, Remi, Tyler Sharp, Caleb Sharp, and Caroline Davis Baillargeon (Jason), and great grandchildren, Thad Sharp V, Alyson Sharp, McLane Sharp, Kynslee Sharp, and Baby Davis Baillargeon, who will cherish her memory and strive to live by the examples she set. Also surviving “like family” are Margie Houston Hunter (Scott) and Matthew Houston (Brooke). She is also survived by sisters, Sara Brame Skinner, Jean Brame Lemmons (Garland), and brother, David Brame (Vickie), as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. The family wishes to thank her many caregivers including Dr. Jonathon Dewald and staff, Dr. Sunil Chand, and Dr. Sayeed Hossain. We are also grateful for those who provided compassionate care for her in the home including, Maribel, Ludi, Towanda, Monique, Priscilla, and Donna. Julia was thankful for the care she received from the hospital nurses and staff who came to know her well during her frequent hospital stays in recent times. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Proverbs 31:25. A Celebration of Julia’s Life will be held at Nobles Chapel Baptist Church, 7330 Old Raleigh Road, Sims, at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 21, 2017. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation with the family will be at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson, will be held Wednesday, December 20, 2017, from 6:00 – 8:30 p. m. and other times at the home of Thad and Julia Sharp, 5171 Hwy 581, Sims. Flowers are welcomed or memorials may be made in her memory to the Youth Program at Nobles Chapel Baptist Church, 7330 Old Raleigh Road, Sims, North Carolina 27880. Condolences may be directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home at www.joyners.net.