Julia Ann Gaither Sharp

Julia Ann Gaither Sharp passed away peacefully on February 9, 2020 at William Dunlap Hospice House in Raleigh. Julia Ann Gaither was born on May 12, 1934 to Ralph and Louise Gaither in Harmony, North Carolina. Julia Ann grew up in Harmony on a dairy farm with her brother, Ned. While in high school, her uncle, James, introduced her to LW Sharp at a high school play. After graduating from high school, she and LW married and were married for 67 years before LW’s death in December of 2019. They had four daughters, Delaine Blinson (Mel), Mary Lou Rhodes (Tim), Carla Brewer (Mark) and Connie Sharp. Julia Ann learned quickly that being married to a traveling salesman meant moving around a lot and so each of their daughters was born in a different city in North Carolina before the family settled down in Raleigh. While living in these different cities as a young couple, LW and Julia Ann developed friendships that would last throughout their lifetime. Julia Ann was the ultimate stay-at-home Mom. She took pride in keeping a home, hosting family events and especially raising her daughters and supporting them in sports, music lessons, Girl Scouts and much more. She was a talented seamstress and was always the first Mom to sign up as “Home Room” Mom or Girl Scout Leader. She was a wonderful cook and believed in the importance of sitting down as a family for meals which always included dessert! With LW traveling through the week, Julia Ann sometimes felt like a single mom so her daughters regularly heard “Just wait until your father gets home”. Another saying that is hard to forget and a personal favorite was when we complained about walking to the bus stop and she would respond “I used to have to milk cows before I went to school”. Hard to argue with that! Julia Ann was very involved with her church and was a member of St. James United Methodist Church for over fifty years. She was involved in St. James Women Ministries, Altar Guild and her Women’s Church Circle (Mary Brown Circle). Julia Ann was a long-time member of Capital City Civitans along with her husband. Julia Ann was also involved in community service such as volunteering at Special Olympic events and Meals on Wheels. After her daughters were older, Julia Ann went to work. First, at NC State University and then for the NC Department of Insurance. She worked with LW in their family business for a time and then went to work for Wake County Child Welfare Services where she worked until she retired. Julia Ann took great pride and joy in her four grandsons, Jason Phillips (Beth), Casey Phillips, Josh Blinson (Meg) and Ryan Blinson (Kelly) and embraced her step-grandchildren (Josh Rhodes Jenna Papula) when they joined the family. Julia Ann loved to shop so she started a tradition that for each grandchild’s birthday she and LW would take them out to dinner and on a shopping trip. This started when they were toddlers and continued through their college years. She was thrilled with each new great-grandchild that was added to the family. She had 11 great-grandchildren: Lily, Josie and Kyler Phillips (Jason); Elle, Clara and Titus Blinson (Josh); and Fletcher, Holt and Evie Blinson (Ryan); Jase Rhodes (Josh); and Jack Papula (Jenna). After retirement, LW and Julia continued traveling. LW and Julia were able to visit forty-nine states over the years. They loved camping and traveling and were members of an RV Club. Julia continued participating in her card group and church circle in her retirement years. Throughout her life, Julia Ann was blessed with friends that have remained loyal and faithful especially during the last few years of her life when her health was failing. She was thankful for all of these friends and loved them deeply. Julia Ann was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years. She is survived by her brother (Ned Gaither) her four daughters, three sons-in-law, four grandsons and two step-grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, two nephews and numerous cousins. Our Mother, Julia Ann, slipped away peacefully and is finally pain-free. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her but her family is at peace knowing that she will be reunited with Dad. As in their life together, Dad was always waiting on Mom. The waiting is over and they are together again. The family would like to thank Hospice for their guidance and kindness during this difficult journey and also the caregivers at Sunrise at North Hills for their care of our Mother. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday at Saint James United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:00pm – 2:00 pm prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint James UMC, 3808 Saint James Church Road, Raleigh, NC 27604 or to Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607. A service of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Raleigh, NC.