---

JAMES ROSS “JIMMY” SHARPE

James Ross “Jimmy” Sharpe, 65, of Murphy died Friday, December 31, 2004 in a Murphy medical center. A native of Graham County, he had been living in Cherokee County for the past 11 years. He was the son of the late Hardy Richard and Rosa Hooper Sharpe. He was a veteran of the United States Army. He retired as a district manager with North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company and Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company in Graham and Cherokee Counties. He was a member of the Robbinsville First Baptist Church where he had served as Sunday School teacher. For many years, Jimmy sang with the New Hope Quartet and was later the choir director for the Sound of Youth in Graham County. He was preceded in death by a sister, Sylvia Hyde.

Surviving are his wife, Wanda King Sharpe; a daughter, Monica Hawkins and her husband, Kevin of Murphy; two sons, Eddie Sharpe and wife, Mandy of Robbinsville and Justin Sharpe of the home; a brother, Richard Sharpe and his wife, Ezma of Longwood, FL; two dearly beloved grandsons, Austin and Avery Hawkins; and two brothers-in-law, Mike King of the home and Walter Hyde of Ohio.

Funeral services at 1:00 PM Tuesday, January 4, 2005 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with Rev. Daniel Stewart and Rev. Jack Millsaps officiating. Burial in the Old Mother Cemetery in Robbinsville. Pallbearers: Gene Farley, Eric Phillips, Tim Chastain, Billy and Bobby Ditmore, and Brad Lewis.

The family will receive friends from 11:00-12:45 Tuesday morning at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to services.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of arrangements.

---