May Sharp Obituary

May Bynum Sharp SUMTER, SC - May Bynum Sharp, 88, widow of Robert Glenmore Sharp, died Friday, January 23, 2015 at Covenant Place. The only daughter of the late Esther Clarke and William Edwards Bynum, she was born November 9, 1927 in Tuomey Hospital, Sumter, SC. The second of four Bynum children, she adored her brothers, Billy, Henry and Alvis and their families with whom she gathered around the major holidays and as often as possible her entire life. She graduated from Edmunds High School in 1944 and Converse College, Spartanburg, SC, in 1948 with a bachelors degree in child psychology. Returning to Sumter from college, she taught school in Sumter County until 1949 when she married Robert Glenmore Sharp who predeceased her in 2013. In the early part of her 63 year marriage she had two daughters, Esther Bynum Sharp and Elise Brown Sharp (Moore). In addition to her jobs as teacher and mother, Mrs. Sharp was a compassionate and active volunteer in the civic and cultural life of her home town. Over the years she donated her time to the Sumter Art Association, the Junior Welfare League, the Red Cross, as a Sunday School teacher at Trinity United Methodist, her church home and Tuomey Hospital where she visited patients and worked in the canteen. She was a member of the Colonial Dames, Daughters Book Club and Women's Literary Club. As an alumna of Converse College, she served as class representative, class agent and Sumter area representative. In 1998 she received the Mae Elizabeth Kilgo Spirit Award for her service to the college. She was nominated for the award by a classmate who said, "It is May who keeps the Class of 1948 a united body. Her enthusiasm for her school and her interest in each and every classmate makes us all excited about Converse. All of us come back to Converse because of May." Mrs. Sharp is survived by her daughters, Esther Bynum Sharp and Elise Brown Sharp (Moore) and son-in-law, Wayne Moore, all of Pawley's Island and two brothers, Henry Bynum and Alvis Bynum, both of Sumter; grandsons Chad and Ford Moore, Galen Haggerty, Tommy Hearn and her beloved extended family members and close friends. Bettie Lue Burch maintained the Sharp home and watched over the children for many years. She was predeceased by a brother, William (Billy) Bynum. Funeral Services will be held at 11 AM Tuesday at Trinity United Methodist Church with Dr. Stephen Holler and Rev. Phil Jones officiating. A reception will follow at the home, 211 Wactor St., where the family will also receive visitors from 4-6 PM Monday. Private burial will be held at the Sumter Cemetery. Mrs. Sharp recently lived at Covenant Place where she was lovingly cared for by: Angela Cooper, Eve Mack, Mary Martin, Sara Perry, Ebony Singleton, Minnie Thomas, Juanita Weston and Melissa Wheeler. Her family also wishes to thank the staff at Covenant Place for their dedicated care of Mrs. Sharp. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Converse College, Spartanburg, SC. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements. 803-775-9386. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston