Mary Lee Sharp

Mary Lee Smith was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on April 22, 1904 to Hugh and Pearl Smith. Her piano talent was evident at an early age and she was groomed for the Cincinnati Music Conservatory. She married Lester C. Sharp of Bluff City, Tenn. in 1928. Daughter Mary Anne was born in Johnson City Tenn. and twins Jane and John were born in Miami, Fla. The family moved to Decatur in 1937and remained there until the 1960'S, with the children attending Decatur public schools and First Baptist Church of Decatur. Active in music circles, Mary Lee taught voice, piano and organ, and served as organist and choir director in various churches in the area. She was music librarian for First Baptist Church and in 1949 was selected as accompanist for the Decatur Civic Chorus -a position she held for 11years until moving to Florida. Les and Mary Lee moved to Jacksonville, Fla. in 1961when the B.F. Goodrich Co. transferred Les to manage their tire warehouse. While in Jacksonville, she taught piano, voice, and served as organist in many churches in the area. Active in the Jacksonville Opera Co. and the Jacksonville Symphony, Mary Lee returned to Decatur in 1983 after the death of her husband in 1982. Returning to Decatur she has resumed her music and Church activities. Not content with only music to occupy her time, she began taking art lessons in oils and water colors at age 81. Her art work is outstanding and to celebrate her 100th birthday her art was on display for a month at the Temple Gallery in Decatur, sponsored by the DeKalb Council for the Arts. At age 100 she moved to Clairmont Oaks, a retirement home, across from First Baptist Church of Decatur where she was very active. At age 106 she moved to Azalea Gardens in Conyers and just this past June moved to Morningside of Conyers, an Assistance Living Facility. Mary Lee is still active in church activities and the Decatur Civic Chorus. She has been on every concert tour with the Chorus to Europe, Mexico, and the USA. In 1958she was the accompanist for the Chorus tour of England, Scotland, Wales, Belgium and France, and in 1998 at the age of 95enjoyed assisting the accompanist on tour of Ireland and Scotland. In 2001 she was named Senior Citizen of the Year in Decatur, and in 2010 received the Mary Clark Award for outstanding support of the Arts in DeKalb County. She is the proud mother of 3 children, daughter, Mary Anne Sharp, son John Sharpe and his wife Shirley of Harrisburg, PA and daughter Jane Sharp Otten and her husband Terry of Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has 4 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, all of whom are very proud of her. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Decatur Civic Chorus, First Baptist Church or DEAM (Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry).


Funeral Home:
A.S. Turner
2773 N. Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033