Jewel Ione Quillen Sharp, of Florence, was born January 3, 1924, in Maud, Alabama. She left this earth for her heavenly home Tuesday, August 22, 2023. She was the first of 12 children born to Odis Lee and Nannie Edna Burns Quillen. She was predeceased by her husband, William Frank Sharp, great-granddaughter Katherine Mae Burnette; her parents; her siblings; Thomas Allen (Vergie), Charles Arthur, Sammy Paul, Jimmy Wayne Quillen, Norma Jean Bowles (Henry D.), Jeanette (Jan) Quillen and brother-in-law, Paul T. Blackburn.
Visitation will be Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 1-3 p.m. at Greenview Funeral Home. The funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Barry Lee Blackburn, her nephew; John Wendell Burnette, II, her great grandson officiating the service and at the graveside Rev. Chris Weldon.
She is survived by her daughter Linda Ann Sharp Persall and husband, Harry Vance Persall, Jr.; granddaughter Lesley Posey Burnette and husband Darryl; grandson Kenneth Lee Posey, all of Florence, great grandson John Wendell Burnette II (Katelin) and great-great granddaughter Hadley May Burnette. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Her siblings, Virginia Quillen Blackburn Florence, Edmond Lee Quillen, Austin, Texas, Larry Dean Quillen (King) and Nancy Joyce Quillen-Gill, both of Huntsville, Rejetta Ruth Quillen Balentine, Birmingham and Sue Quillen, Calera, Alabama. She is also survived by at least 90 nieces and nephews
Jewel graduated from Central High School, Florence, Alabama in 1942 and married Frank in 1943 in Cloverdale, Alabama. Frank spent 4 years as a medic in WWII, mainly in Europe.
After graduating from Larimore Business College, she had 30 years of employment with the Social Security Administration as a claims adjuster who always had the fewest errors. After retirement, she and Frank traveled the country, always with friends. The rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming was an annual trip.
Jewel and Frank were members of North Wood Methodist Church for many years. She was currently a member of Pleasant Hill Church.
Pallbearers are nephews, Tommy Balentine, John Balentine, Bryan Balentine, Jeff Quillen, Michael Gill, David Sharp, Joel Quillen and J.R. Sharp.
Honorary pallbearers are Gary Walls, John Upton, Freddy Killen, Bill Blackburn, Steven Quillen, Joshua Hargett, Chris Yerbey,
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Pleasant Hill Children’s Ministry, 2705 County Road 222, Florence, Alabama 35633; Merrimack Center for the Arts, a non-profit for special needs children and adults, 3320 Triana Boulevard, SW, Huntsville, Alabama 35805, info@merrimackhall.com;or a charity of your choice.
