John Garland Sharpe Sr.

SHARPE, John Garland Sr., 79, was welcomed by his heavenly Father on March 21, 2010. A native of Richmond, he was preceded in death by his wife, A. Melanie, to whom he was devoted; his parents, Alton and Elizabeth Sharpe; and brothers, Dr. Alton Sharpe Jr. and Forest Sharpe. Remaining to honor his memory are three children, John Jr. (Lynda) of Richmond, Allison Peterson (George) of Goochland, and Susan Josselyn of Cary, N.C.; three grandchildren, John "Jay" Sharpe III (April), Thomas Sharpe and the newest "love of his life," 3½year old, Maria Peterson; and his sister, Joan Lee of Virginia Beach. A graduate of John Marshall High School and a Navy corpsman during the Korean Conflict, John graduated from the MCV School of Pharmacy in 1956. Owner of Grace Street Pharmacy in Richmond, he later worked for Standard Drug before retiring from CVS after 40 years of practice. He took great pride in being part of what many consider "the most trusted profession." His eclectic interests included German choral music, small appliance repair and "tinkering" with toys, a favorite of which was a 1940s Lionel train set. John was also a living "Santa Claus," keeping the spirit of Christmas year-round and handing out hundreds of candy canes, an extravagant treat, he often recalled as a child during the Great Depression. In his 76th year, John committed his life to Jesus Christ and enthusiastically shared the "Good News." He believed that his conversion so late in life symbolized the Lord's eternal love. After Melanie's death, he was surrounded by a group of amazing friends. Words cannot express our heartfelt appreciation for the love and friendship of Daphney Avens and Veronica Crawley over many years, the Meusa family and more recently, the care and ministry of Ayana Thompson, Nancy Chege and Dr. Susan Schaffer. A celebration of John's life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 25, 2010, at Welborne United Methodist Church, a community that welcomed a new member, but an old man, with open arms. A gathering at the family home will follow. Interment private at Westhampton Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the John G. Sharpe Memorial Fund at Welborne United Methodist Church, 920 Maybeury Dr., Henrico, Va. 23229, to support outreach for the poor.



This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.