Ellwood Sharpe, Sr Obituary (1947

Early Thursday morning, November 1, 2007, God stopped by Memorial Hospital at Easton to take his beloved son, Elwood Nelson Sharpe, Sr. home to eternal rest. Elwood was born on June 9, 1947 in Preston, Maryland to Virginia and the late Otis Nelson Sharpe. He was the oldest of their six children and a brother to many foster sisters and brothers. He had a very special relationship with his grandparents, the late Maynard and Geneva Murray. He attended the Jonestown Elementary School in Jonestown and in 1965 he graduated from Lockerman High School in Denton, MD. Elwood excelled in math and history. He was accepted and began classes at Md. State College in Princess Anne, MD. Later he decided to move to Philadelphia, PA and he worked in various industries including Budd's Car Parts Manufacturerer, Nabisco Company and Hanneman Hospital. While residing in Philadelphia, he met his wife Brenda. He returned to MD. and married her on June 28, 1980 after a nine year courtship. They both cleaved to each other as evidenced by their devotion to one another. He referred to her as "dear." For the past several years he was employed as a supervisor at Shore Health Courier Service. He didn't want to miss any time from work not even when he became ill. He loved his job and took pride in serving his customers. Many said he brought the sunshine when he came to the office because he was always cordial, concerned and caring. Elwood attended Mt. Pleasant UMC. He was shy, didn't like crowds and after the benediction he went to the preacher privately and told him he wanted to give his life to Christ. The preacher had to call everybody back. Family history was important to him. During the past few years he audio taped discussions during our winter family tradition of making Christmas wreaths. He had a strong voice and was straight forward with everyone. Elwood was a private person with a zest for life. He loved taking care of plants, working in his garden and had methodical way of cutting his grass. His meticulous nature was evident in his style of dressing a�"he was sharp! He leaves to cherish his memory, Brenda, his caring and devoted wife of 27 years; five children, Marchelle Smith (Anthony), Finchville, MD, Gail Brown (Marvin) and Elwood Nelson Sharpe, Jr. (all of Preston, MD), Aaron Greene (Vanessa), Newport New, VA and Angie Camper (Anthony), Easton, MD; a loving and devoted mother, Virginia Sharp (Preston, MD); mother in-law, Beatrice Patton (Philadelphia, PA); three brothers, Larry Sharpe (Rosie), Preston, MD, Sherwood Sharpe (Roberta), Sharptown, MD and Sherman Sharpe, Sr. (Dover, DE), five foster brothers, William Jones (Bridgeville, DE), Stanley Cephus (Baltimore, MD), Charles Cephus (Ruth), Cambridge, MD, Tony Cephus (Karen), Denton, MD, and Wendell Cephus (Washington, Dc); four sisters, Carol Dotson Lee (Cambridge, MD), Barbara Holmes (Paul) and Verna Jenkins (all of Preston, MD), and Loretta Martin (Ron), St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; two foster sisters, Mary E. Jones (Hilton), Bridgeville, DE, and Frances Coulbourn (Salisbury, MD),; six grandchildren-two of which he had a special bond, Antoine Patton (Cambridge, Md) and Jackie Sharpe (Alexandria, LA); two great aunts, Mary Sharpe and Freida Murray (Preston, MD); seven sisters in-law, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. A sister, Alvola Frazier preceded him in death.