Joseph Sharp

Rev. Joseph Finley Sharp, 90, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2011 at his residence. He was a minister with the Church of God who pastored 36 years as well as an educator who taught school for 25 years. He was a member of the North Cleveland Church of God. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having served in World War II. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert S. and Linda Rookard Sharp; first wife, Mae Cupp Sharp; brother, Raymond Sharp and Sister, Opal Baird. Survivors include his wife, Freida Winters Sharp of Cleveland; two sons, Roland M. (Barbara) Sharp of McMinnville, TN and Gary (Joyce) Sharp of Cleveland; three step children, Rose Winters Bunn, Bill (Karen) Winters, and Pat Winters Allen (Bob); one brother, John L. Sharp of Lafollette, TN; five grandchildren, Renae (Bruce) Dixon of Carmel, IN, Brent (Ashleigh) Sharp of Wilson, NC, Robert (Marla) Sharp of Smyrna, TN, Brian (Heather) Sharp of Orlando, FL, Matt (Connie) Sharp of Dacula, GA, Tony and Kyle Rutherford of Cleveland, Shana and Todd Garner of Tifton, GA, and Abigail and Shea Hughes of Weatherford, TX; twenty-four great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Local funeral services will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at The North Cleveland Church of God Dixon Chapel with Rev. Roland Sharp, Gary Sharp, Esmerelda Lee, Dr. Dennis McGuire, and Pastor Mitch Maloney officiating. Special music will be presented by Danny Murray. The family will receive friends Monday from 4-7 p.m. at the church prior to the service. The family requests memorials be made to the Lee University Chapel Building Fund, 1120 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland, TN 37311. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. (CST) at the Locust St. Church of God, 202 Locust St., McMinnville, TN 37310. The family will receive friends at the church from 10-11 a.m. (CST) prior to the service. Interment will follow in Mt. View Cemetery in McMinnville, TN with Brent Sharp, Robert Sharp, Bryan Sharp, Matt Sharp, Bruce Dixon, Brandon Dixon, Carson Sharp and Jared Sharp serving as pallbearers. Grissom Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.grissomfh.net.