George William ("G.W.") Sharpley

George William Sharpley was born in Louisville, HY to the late Deacon Ledger C. and the late Mother Henrietta Garth-Sharpley on August 9, 1943.

He was known as "G.W." to family and friends alike. The family moved from Kentucky when he was young at which time he enrolled in the Morgan County School System.

He accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized at Moulton Heights Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend James Smith. Later in life on April 19, 2019 he joined Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Greenbrier, Alabama under the leadership of his first cousin, the late Elder Joe H. Cater where he remained until his death.

He graduated from Morgan County Training School , class of 1963. He graduated from Drake as a brick mason. While in school he ran track. During his school age years, G.W. worked along side his cousin at his funeral home, Sykes Funeral Home, where G.W. learned and loved the business. He dreamed of one day opening his own funeral home. So when he graduated high school, he went to mortician school and his dreams came to be when he opened up his own funeral home on December 6, 1979 at his first location on Sycamore Street NW Decatur, Alabama, which stayed there from 1979-1982. Later he moved the business from there to its present location at 410 Railroad Street NW Decatur, Alabama.

G.W. was a hard-working man. At the present location of his funeral home while working at Wolverine Tube, Inc on second shift he paved the entire parking lot with extra concrete from different concrete companies, they would call him when they had extra loads and he would say "Bring it on". He would leave work and meet the drivers at the funeral home and lay out each form it took to pave the parking lot. With no help from anyone, he and God worked late at night making his dreams come true. 

Every year for many, many years G.W. would purchase cases and cases of fruit with is own money, bag them up and give fruit bags out the the elderly people and kids in the community and surrounding areas. He also had a radio program on Sunday morning for many years that the community could call in with church news or to ask for prayer for different people until the station closed.

While the funeral home has been at its present location many ministers that asked to use the funeral home chapel to start their own ministries and churches.

G.W. and his brother, the late Dr. Ronald Pha Sharpley of Forsyth, Georgia, had an idea to own cattle. They purchased five cows and two mules, which turned into 40 heads. He kept the cattle after his brother passed up until three or four months ago when they became too much for him to handle.

G.W. was a very kind-hearted man who didn't mind helping anyone in need. Any families that patronized his business, whether they spent a million dollars or didn't have anything, he always gave service with a smile. Everyone always got respectful and courteous service.  

Those family members who have gone on before him standing and waiting on him at the Golden Gates are: his parents, Deacon Ledger C. and Mother Henrietta Garth-Sharpley, his grandparents; two brothers, Dr. Ronald Pha Sharpley and James Harold Sharpley; first cousin, Elder Joe H. Cater, whom he loved like a brother and many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.

G.W. answered his Heavenly Father's call on Saturday, January 30, 2021.

He leaves behind to cherish and remember his love and memories: a wife, Janet Sharpley. His four loving and devoted children, Michael W. Sharpley, Teresa A. Sharpley, Cynthia ( Von) Mason and Michell ( Douglas) McCarver. six grandchildren:  Deion Moore, Michael J. Sharpley, Qwientiss Mason, Kaleb Sharpley. Bre'Unna McCarver and Zarriah Mason; seven great-grandchildren: Paris, Kash, Armoni, Brooklyn, Da'Moni, Ky'Mon and Ky'Mani; two stepchildren, Williams (Ebone) Langford and Alexander Langford Jr.; a sister Virenda ( Luther) Orr; two nephews: Deangelo Sharpley and Toronzo Orr; five sisters-in-laws: Betty Sharpley, Jacqueline ( Billy) Ervin, Clara McLin, Martha Harper and Linda Harper; eight brothers-in-laws: Barry Thatch, Kenneth Thatch, Ezell Williams, Jessie (Dee) Williams, Robert Taylor, Robert ( Mary) Harper, Frank ( Monica) Harper, and Robert Moore; a host of cousins and close friends. 

The Sharpley family wishes to acknowledge with sincere gratitude the phone calls, visits, text messages or however you showed us love, especially your prayers. God Bless you all

We are sadden to announce the passing of Mr. George "G.W." Sharpley, Owner of Sharpley Funeral Home who passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2021. 

Under the directing of Sharpley Funeral Home. A Graveside Service will be held on Sunday, February 7, 2021 at 2:00pm at Decatur City Cemetery ( Located at 1001 Wilson St. NW, Decatur, Alabama 35601).

Family Hour will be held from 6:00pm-8:00pm on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at the Henrietta Garth-Sharpley Memorial Chapel( located at 410 Railroad Street N.W., Decatur, Alabama 35601)  A FACE MASK OR SOME SORT OF FACE COVERING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE ENFORCED!! NO EXCEPTIONS!! IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE!!

THE FAMILY ASK... IF YOU HAVE IT ALREADY.. BECAUSE HE WAS AN AUBURN FAN... PLEASE WEAR AUBURN COLORS.. ORANGE AND BLUE!! WAR EAGLE!!

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