Helen Maurine Helfer Sharp

HELEN MAURINE HELFER SHARP

Helen Maurine Helfer Sharp transitioned from this life to the next on August 13, 2016.

Visitation will be at the Robert Barham Family Funeral Home August 16, 2016 from 5 to 7 pm.  A worship service celebrating her life and resurrection will be held at Newton United Methodist Church at 1:00 pm on August 17, 2016, with visitation one hour before the service.  The Reverend Gary Howse will conduct the service.  Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Meridian with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Helen was born December 28, 1922 in Brush, Colorado and grew up in Denver.  She has claimed Mississippi as home since 1944.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Jesse Edwin Sharp who died February 7, 2009.

Helen was a homemaker until her children finished college and then she began her academic and professional career.  She received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Meridian Community College, earning the top nursing award.  She worked at St. Joseph and Riley hospitals in Meridian.  She then went to the University of Southern Mississippi and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  Later she earned her Master of Science in Nursing also from the University of Southern Mississippi.

She began teaching nursing at Meridian Community College in 1973.  She also taught nursing at the Matty Hersee Hospital in Meridian.  Near the end of her career in nursing, she helped set up the Nursing Program at East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi.  Her community involvement and her devotion to nursing were recognized and as a result she was selected “Woman of the Year” for Meridian.

Helen was an active church member and served with distinction in her local church.  She was a longtime member of Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church in Meridian, and after moving to Hickory to be near her daughter, she joined and participated in the Newton United Methodist Church.  An avid seamstress, she joined the church’s Priscilla Stitchers sewing group that has made over 1700 garments for children in Costa Rica.

Helen is survived by her son Rev. Robert Sharp and his wife Cynthia of Bloomington, Indiana, her two daughters, Wanda Dixon and her husband Richard of Meridian, and Sue Ford and her husband Daryl of Hickory, MS.

She is survived by ten grandchildren.

Janet Dixon McMurtray of Ridgeland, MS, Susan Dixon Duke (Jimmy) of Meridian, Diane Dixon Holland (Mike) of Jacksonville, FL.  Libby Sharp Humphreys (Bob) of Washington, D.C., Kim Sharp (James) of Katy, TX,  Cathy Sharp Scheib (Chris) of Indianapolis, IN, Edwin Sharp of Apple Valley, CA, Allegra Ford Davis (John) of Marietta, GA, Stephen Ford (Lynn) of Slidell, LA, and Shelley Ford White (Jamie) of Melbourne, FL.  In addition she was blessed with twenty four great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Newton United Methodist Church, 600 Decatur Street, Newton, MS 39345

Helen was blessed to live 93 wonderful years with a strong faith, a loving family, and a host of dear friends.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.