Martha Sharpe

Martha Wood Sharpe, 89, of Chesterfield, formerly of Colonial Heights, passed away on Monday, March 7, 2011 at Chippenham Medical Center. Born in Hampton, she was the daughter of the late John L. and Florence Smith Wood, and was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Nicholas Sharpe Jr., and a brother, John L. Wood Jr. Mrs. Sharpe was a member of First Baptist Church, Petersburg, where she served as a Deacon, worked with the nursery for over 30 years, and was a member of the handbell choir. She was a retired Registered Nurse, having been one of 44,000 that volunteered for the US Cadet Nurse Corps at the beginning of World War II, and graduated in 1945. She worked at Arlington Hospital from 1945 to 1948, then moved to the Tri-City area in 1949 and lived in Colonial Heights for 55 years, while working at Petersburg General Hospital, now Southside Regional Medical Center. She was a member of the Colonial Heights Senior Citizens Club for over 30 years, served as President for 10 years, and members described her as the Heartbeat of the club. Mrs. Sharpe is survived by a son, Ed Sharpe and wife, Ginger of Richburg, South Carolina; two daughters, Charlene "Sissy" Sharpe and husband, Max Reavis of Chesterfield, and Cathy Sharpe Marlow of Granite Falls, North Carolina; five grandchildren, Nicole Marlow Greene and husband, Sean, Ryan Marlow, Nicholas, Ritchie, and Lauren Sharpe; and one great-granddaughter, Rylee Maye Greene. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 11, 2011 in the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard with the Reverend Robert Dawson officiating. Interment will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday in the Waverly Cemetery, Waverly, Virginia. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11:00 a.m. Friday prior to the service. If desired, contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, 235 W. Washington Street, Petersburg, Virginia 23803.