Helen Thompson Sharpley

Helen Thompson Sharpley, 82, of Metter, formerly of Savannah, widow of Don Frazer Sharpley, died Monday afternoon, February 5, 2018, at her home with her family by her side.



She was born in Augusta, Georgia, September 3, 1935, a daughter of the late Marion Walker Thompson and the late Helen Schley Thompson. Mrs. Sharpley was a lifelong Episcopalian.



After attending public schools in Augusta, the family moved to Savannah in 1949. She graduated from Savannah High School in 1953 and received her BA in English Literature from Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, Virginia in 1957.



In 1962 she married her husband of 44 years and they raised three girls at Isle of Hope before retiring to Metter in 1986.



She was active in many civic and church activities through the years. At her death she was a member of The National Society of the Colonial Dames in America, The Daughters of the American Revolution, The Candler County Historical Society, The Friends of the L. C. Anderson Memorial Library, The August Genealogical Society, Beech Island Historical Society, The Salzburger Society, Bonaventure Historical Society and the Purysbury Preservation Foundation.



In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, William Lee Thompson.



Surviving are three daughters and their husbands, Schley Sharpley Shineman and Tad Franklin Shineman and Elizabeth Sharpley Dowlen and John Evans Dowlen, Jr., all of Atlanta and Liesl Sharpley Tanner and Edward Scott Tanner of Savannah; grandchildren, Frank Stewart Tanner and Hiram Sharpley Tanner of Savannah and Emma Kelly Dowlen and Margaret Loxley Dowlen of Atlanta; sister, Anne Thompson Nix of Venice, Florida, and many nephews, nieces and cousins.



The funeral service will be held at 11 o'clock Thursday morning, February 8, 2018, at the graveside, Bonaventure Cemetery, conducted by The Reverend Allen Cason.



Remembrances: Andrew Low House Endowment Fund - 329 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401.