Hazel Elizabeth Harbin Sharpe, a lifetime resident of Maysville, Alabama, died on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at the age of 92.

Born on July 13, 1932, Hazel resided along Maysville Road and Ryland Pike the entirety of her life. She attended Central Junior High School where she was a cheerleader and a Girl Scout. Hazel graduated from Madison County High School in 1951.

During high school, Hazel worked every Saturday at Dobson's Five & Dime store in downtown Huntsville. However, on Saturday, December 23, 1950, Hazel arranged to leave work early and took with her a suit of clothes. Thomas Sharpe picked her up from work, and they went to his sister's house. There, Hazel changed into her wedding clothes before she and Tom went to the preacher's house to be married. This marked the beginning of their 65-year marriage. By the end of 1954, Tom and Hazel were a family of five, having welcomed three daughters, Janice, Carol, and Deborah.

Hazel very much enjoyed shopping. She and her mother, along with three girls in tow, spent many days shopping in downtown Huntsville. She frequented Belk Hudson, J. C. Penney, Kress, Woolworth's, G. C. Murphy's, and the old Dunnavant's store. Hazel never made a "quick" shopping trip. She always left having seen every item in the store!

In the late 1950s, Hazel returned to Central Junior High School, this time as a substitute teacher. She later was hired as the Secretary/Bookkeeper, a job she retired from in 1996. Mrs. Sharpe, as she was known by the students, faculty, and staff, had a great fondness for Central School and the friends she made there. Despite her fading memory in the later years of her life, Hazel never forgot her days at Central and spoke of them often.

Hazel was an excellent seamstress. She made beautiful quilts and clothing for her girls, and later, for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She left her family with many handmade heirlooms to treasure in her absence. Additionally, her family will fondly remember time spent with her on fall hayrides, Sunday afternoons in the backyard, and holiday meals crowded around the kitchen table.

In Hazel's final days she spoke often of her grandmother, affectionately called "Gran," and her love for Gran's Blackberry Jam Cake. She expressed her love for each of her family members and looked forward to reuniting with Tom. "Be thankful for family," was her final instruction to the family.

Hazel is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Albert Sharpe; parents, Gordon (Pete) Harbin and Josie Pylant Harbin; brother, Ray Harbin; and son-in-law, Glenn Wilks.

She is survived by her brother, Bill (Wilma) Harbin; nephew, Mark (Kelly) Harbin; three daughters, Janice (Steve) Renegar, Carol Wilks, and Deborah (Harold) Fanning; four grandchildren, Alison (Adam) Fanning Creel, Daniel Fanning, Amy (Sean) Wilks Pollard, and Kelli (Brad) Renegar Grissom; and eight great-grandchildren, Audrey Creel, Anna Creel, Adeline Creel, Liam Fanning, Gregor Fanning, Kaitlyn Pollard, Lauren Pollard, and Ryleigh Grissom.

The family extends special thanks and much gratitude to Anetta's Home LLC in Hazel Green, Ala., and to Hazel's caregivers, AnnaKay and Annmarie. AnnaKay and Annmarie made Hazel's final days ones of comfort as they tirelessly attended to her every need.

Hazel was a member of Oak Park Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala. She will be laid to rest at Valhalla Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be on Friday, May 16th, from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. at Berryhill Funeral Home. A chapel service to honor Hazel's life will follow at 2:00 p.m., conducted by her son-in-law, Dr. Harold Fanning.