Alma Sharpe

Sharpe, Alma (Simpson) BALTIMORE, Md. Alma Francis Simpson Sharpe passed on to greater glory Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at her home in Baltimore, with her daughter, Ivy by her side. Alma was born to Francis Clifford and Wilhelmina Bright Simpson on September 1, 1925 in Albany, N.Y. She graduated from Albany High School in 1943 and was employed for the state of New York in Albany and New York City. Alma married Irvin Van Sharpe in Albany in January 1955. To that union was born their only child, Ivy Francis Sharpe Morris. She and Wilhelmina moved to Columbia, Md. in 1973 to be close to their aunt, Esther Snowden Warrick and cousins, Jean Toomer and family. While in Columbia, Alma was employed at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory until her retirement. Later she worked at Harleysville Insurance Company and Howard Community College. In 2000, Alma moved with Ivy to Boston, Mass. where they resided until 2004. She and Ivy returned to Baltimore to, again, be near Jean and family. In her Columbia years, she volunteered with the Maryland Museum of African Art and attended Christ Episcopal Church. She loved to sing and brought joy to others with her occasional public offerings. She was also an accomplished sketch artist, loved to read and found great pleasure in the spoken word. Alma encouraged everyone she met through her friendly countenance and ability to show compassion and different perspectives in problem solving. Often affectionately referred to in her work environment as "Miss Alma." She will always be lovingly remembered and appreciated by Ivy; her cousins; the Jean and Clarence Toomer family, Debra and Diana, Jeanette, Nia and Lisa, David, Jay, Davianne and Haley, and Derrick, Donna, Rachel, Danielle and Jessica Watkins; by her close extended family, Lisa and Keith Wilkins and their children, Brittany, Chloe, Samara, Nina, Leighton (Biggy), Alana; by her devoted niece, Barbara O'Neal; and dear friends, Cesar and Shelley Salas, Charles Schoppert and William Obrecht, and her lifelong friends, Betty Tucker, Lily McFashion O'Neal; and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be Wednesday morning at 9:30 at the Cathedral of All Saints, S. Swan Street, Albany. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Newcomer Cannon Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd., Colonie (Rt. 155-south of Central Ave). Interment will be in Memory's Garden, Colonie. To leave a special message for the family online, visit NewcomerFamily.com