Virginia Sharpe; July 26, 2010

Virginia Lowry Sharpe died at her home in Madison on July 26 with her family at her bedside.

Virginia, known lovingly as “Chubby,” grew up in Greensboro. She graduated from Greensboro High School and received an associate degree at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University). There she met her husband, the late Mitchell R. Sharpe Jr.

Chubby and Mitch moved to Huntsville in 1955 with their infant daughter, Rebecca Ann. Rachel Ruth and David Mitchell both were later born in Huntsville.

Chubby practiced her professional career at Huntsville Education Association from 1972 to 1980 as office manager. She was active in the League of Women Voters, the Huntsville Literary Association and her church, first Trinity Methodist Church and later Faith Presbyterian Church. She touched the lives of many young people there as the high school youth group leader. She was very actively involved in her children’s activities and was “the neighborhood mom.” Many love and remember her excellent cooking, her sense of humor and fun, her ever-present smile, and the various pets she loved and shared with her children and later her grandchildren.

She moved to Birmingham after she and Mitch divorced in 1980, to work for the Alabama Education Association as a UniServ director. Between 1980 and 1995 she made many lifelong loving friends in Birmingham. In 1995, she retired from a position she loved to return to the Huntsville area to begin her most important career (by her own accounting), being a full-time grandmother (“Boom Boom”) for Becky’s children, Sarah and Christopher.

She drove them to school, countless other activities and cooked for the family most nights, until the occurrence of several major health problems beginning in 2003. Virginia remained involved in Grace Presbyterian Church, serving as an elder, touching the hearts of many people.

Virginia Lowry Sharpe is survived by her sister, Willie Jean L. Arrington of Greensboro; daughters, Rebecca and son-in-law Spencer Johnson of Madison and Rachel Sharpe of Auburn; son, David and daughter-in-law Cathy Sharpe of Alexandria, Ind.; and three grandchildren, Sarah Kathryn Burroughs, of Atlanta, Christopher Teel Johnson of Madison and Ashley Jullanna Tomey of Anderson, Ind.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at Grace Presbyterian Church in Madison. The family suggests any memorial contributions be made to the Grace Presbyterian Church Columbarium Fund, 5555 Wall Triana Highway, Madison, AL 35758.

Berryhill Funeral Home is assisting the family.