Mrs. Jennie Stockman Sharpe

Jennie Stockman Sharpe lived life in motion: feisty, determined, and with a spark that lit up every room. Born December 13, 1943, in Tookie Doo, South Carolina, to Everett Franklin “Sook” Stockman and Ruth Ray Stockman, Jennie was the second of six children. She grew up in the Columbia area and graduated from Dentsville High School in 1961. Jennie began her career in retail at J.B. White’s Department Store, where a friend and coworker introduced her to the love of her life, Joseph Earl “Joe” Sharpe Sr. They married in 1963 at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, where Jennie joined Joe in membership, and they shared 57 years together until Joe’s passing in 2021. Jennie and Joe built a life in Blythewood, raising their three children, Becky, Kellie, and Joey, and becoming central figures in their community. In 1974, with her children in school, Jennie began working as a school bus driver and later as secretary at Blythewood Elementary. In 1975, a new chapter started for Jennie and Joe when they took over Sharpe’s Service Station, a second-generation family business. For nearly five decades, Jennie spent over 70 hours a week commanding her post and taking charge at the station. She worked side by side with Joe, and in 1991, Joey joined them full time. Sharpe’s wasn’t just a place to fuel your car, get your oil changed, or have your tires serviced; it was where you went for a cold drink, an update about what was happening around town, or a “Sharpe” witted word of advice. Jennie knew everyone and everything. Her rolodex behind the counter rivaled Google long before Google existed. She knew when someone got engaged, landed a new job, passed away, or had a baby (because the proud parents stopped by with baby in tow on the way home from the hospital). Jennie and Joe didn’t just serve the Blythewood community; they loved it, fiercely and wholeheartedly. They poured their energy, time, and hearts into making the station a true gathering place. Jennie remembered birthdays, doled out tough love when it was needed, and celebrated everyone’s victories alongside them. She made sure no one in Blythewood felt like a stranger. The station wasn’t just a local business: it was a living room, a bulletin board, and a safe haven. To Jennie, the people who walked through the door were more than customers. They were family. Jennie did everything with energy and conviction. Whether she was selling real estate as owner of Blythewood Realty Inc., chairing the Blythewood Christmas Parade where she helped to establish the sponsorship program with Harold Branham’s special edition prints, contributing as a member of Blythewood’s Lions Club, or serving as president of the Blythewood Business Coalition, Jennie led with decisiveness, enthusiasm, and heart, all without leaving the counter at the station unattended. In January 2024, Jennie stepped away from the station to focus on her health. She had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which she bravely fought until she gained her angel wings on July 19, 2025 at the age of 81. Fighting alongside her every step of the way were her daughters Becky and Kellie. Her family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Dr. Jerry Robinson, Maribell Furtick, Babbi Bowers, South Carolina Oncology Associates, Dr. Sarah Mushtaq, Gwen, Natalie, and the certified nursing assistants from BeWell Home Services, in addition to Dr. Andy McGown and Lisa Stokes who brought Jennie and her family peace and comfort in her final hours. Jennie was predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband Joe, her sister Elsie Stockman, brothers-in-law Tommy McCallum and Fred Sharpe, and sister-in-law Eileen Sharpe. Continuing her legacy, she leaves behind her children, Becky (John) Brooks, Kellie (Dennis) Ballentine, and Joey (Suzie) Sharpe; her grandchildren, JJ (Jamil Ghores) Brooks, Blaire (Louis) Howell, Walter Ballentine, Mary Kathryn Ballentine, Jes Sharpe, Hoffman Sharpe, and Monty Sharpe; her great-grandsons, Peyton Howell and Brooks Howell; her siblings, Herman (Jan) Stockman, Pete (Teddy) Hornsby, Debbie (Ed Davis) Porter, and Polly McCallum; her brothers-in-law, Dr. John Sharpe, Larry Sharpe Sr., and Heyward (Marianne) Sharpe, and her sister-in-law Monique Sharpe; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC 29223, with visitation to follow. To honor Jennie’s colorful spirit, her family invites guests to wear lively and joyful attire. A burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, please share your favorite story about Jennie at the Shives website or by mail to the Sharpe Family, PO Box 824, Blythewood, SC 29016. Your memories are the greatest tribute to a woman who never slowed down and never met a stranger. Memorials can be made to Becky’s Place, a boutique in Lexington Medical Center that provides wigs and prosthetics to those undergoing cancer treatment, or to Richard Winn Academy. (Becky’s Place: 2728 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC 29169 – Richard Winn Academy: 1796 Old Chester Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180.) Jennie’s energy, tenacity, and deep love for her family and community will live on in every person who knew her.

Tributes

Mrs. Jennie Stockman Sharpe

December 13, 1943 - July 19, 2025