Ida Nell Sharp

A celebration of life service for Ida Nell Sharp will be held at 2PM on the 18th of May 2024 at Sullivan Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1PM to 2PM with a graveside service to follow at Restland cemetery in Carthage, Texas.
Ida Nell Sharp was born 14 November 1933 and passed away on the 8th of May 2024. Mrs. Sharp is preceded in death by her parents Nathaniel Long and Victoria Burden. She is also preceded in death by her only sibling John L. Burden.
Mrs. Sharp was married to Sidney Argus Sharp for 47 years; Mr. Sharp passed away in 2001.
She is survived by her three children, Jill Sharp Russell, Jacqueline Sharp and Sidney Lawrence Sharp. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Sharp grew up in the Murvaul community and graduated from Carthage High School in 1949. Later, while Mrs. Sharp's children were attending school, she earned her Bachelor's degree in education from East Texas Baptist College.
After graduation from high school Mrs. Sharp worked for the telephone company as a switchboard operator. One of her accomplishments (performed on a dare) was being able to get connected to the office of the Vice President of the United States of America. Sometime after this event she met the love of her life, Argus Sharp. They married on June the fourth, 1954.
Mrs. Sharp and Argus first lived in the Sand Hills area of Beckville but pretty soon moved into the city of Beckville then later moved to Longview in 1966 and moved back to Panola county in 1979.
Mrs. Sharp was a quiet unassuming woman who supported her husband and children completely. She was the epitome of southern hospitality and graciousness, not to be confused with superficial triteness, for her spine was made of steel when it came to matters regarding her family or friends. But as her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren can attest, Mrs. Sharp believed everything is better with a platter of brownies.
Mrs. Sharp instilled into her children a desire to learn and a confidence that all of us have the capability to achieve our dreams and aspirations. For over twenty years Mrs. Sharp lived alone in an old farm house in an area of rural Panola County. She was a regular bingo player and frequently was the designated driver for the friend group going to First Methodist in Beckville.
Mrs. Sharp taught her children and demonstrated to her grandchildren three concepts:
One, kindness can be demonstrated as service to others. She served by driving older friends to appointments (and bingo), volunteering at Elysian Fields schools to help children with their reading skills, being a poll worker during voting events, helping at her local church in all their activities such as vacation bible school, pot lucks, and women's ministries.
Two, be an encourager. Mrs. Sharp always gave positive input for effort and achievements. She believed everyone has the capability to accomplish their dreams.
Lastly, loving God leads to loving people. She believed that every single one of us are to be a representative of Christ on earth. Mrs. Sharp was born, raised and died a Southern Baptist matriarch. Her conviction of God's love and Christ's resurrection was unshakable. She believed in the gathering of the Body and the power of prayer.
Nothing gave Mrs. Sharp more joy that talking and spending time with her family. To have that connection through communication was sustenance to her soul.
She has run the race, fought the fight and kept the faith.