Sharon Lindsey (Berea Oh)

Mrs. Sharon Lindsey passed away Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at her residence in Berea, Ohio. Age 74 years.

Obituary From A Daughter’s Heart!

How do you condense 74 years of someone's life into a few short paragraphs? You don’t. Instead, you share enough and allow the gaps to be filled by those who hold their own memories and stories.

On January 23,1950 the skies over Memphis, Tennessee opened and out came Sharon Marie Marshall born to Leroy Marshall and Alma Marie Wilkerson, who birthed five children: Tina Marie Davis, Mary Sue Marshall (Hawkins), Sharon Marie Marshall (Lindsey), Ulysses Taylor (aka Jr), and Larry Taylor rounded out her five children.

At the age of 8 years old, life changed drastically when her mother passed away at the age of 29. She and her siblings were left in the care of various family members, one being her aunt, the late great, Ernestine McMullen, who we called grandmother. Many of her cousins then became more like brothers and sisters: Naurice McMullen, Joyce Simpson-McMullen, Walter McMullen, Erma Morrison (Gerald), Kenny McMullen.

At the age of 16 years old, Mom left Memphis to follow family to Lansing, Michigan where she met John Lindsey. Story tells it, she was so in love she opted out of hanging with friends just to be with him. They both would later graduate from J.W. Sexton High School in 1967. Mom wanted to go to college after graduation to become a schoolteacher, but lack of finances prevented that. She married my Dad in October 1969, and together they had three amazing children (smile): Charnell Lindsey (Hugh Gibbs), Tammy Lindsey (Fred Dean), and John Lindsey. A tree that would branch out to form six grandchildren: Raquel Gibbs (Jovon Young), Jarohn Gibbs, Kayla Gibbs, Kasia Jordan, Raenah Lindsey, Destiny Dean and two great-grandchildren: Kimora Williams and Naira Young.

In October of 1996, at the age of 46, Mom became a widow shortly after 27 years of marriage.

Family was her life! Her mission was to always make sure everyone around her felt loved and welcomed. A mission she strongly believed in at the core of her soul.

She epitomized love, kindness, compassion, and even more so forgiveness. She was very beautiful and had a smile and a sense of humor that would brighten a dull day. A laugh that rang with sheer joy. She was so sweet, but she had a feistiness that would put you in check.

I recall the day when Mom told me over the phone, she was transferring her job with General Motors Corporation to Ohio. With absolute conviction she spoke, “ I ain’t asking for ya’ll permission, I’m just letting you know!” She concluded with, “I have always made decisions around you all, but this time it’s about me!” What do you say to that?

Approximately 2002 she moved to the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio eventually built a big, beautiful home, retired from General Motors Corporation after 30 years just to open her home for the next 18 years to foster the lives of children, who like her as a child, suddenly found their world shattered. No matter the pain nor the toil it took on her she was steadfast in assuring that each child who walked through her doors felt safe and at home. In essence, she gave them everything she wanted growing up: Love, stability, birthday parties, trips, gifts galore, and self-worth. She treated them truly like they were her own. She was a mother of many.

She was once an avid bowler playing in leagues. She enjoyed photography, reading, and gardening. A broken refrigerator was no match for Mom, she would YouTube the problem and fix it herself. She was not intimidated by technology at all. She wired her house to operate at her command. Siri knew Sharon’s voice.

She was an interior decorator in her own right. She had a knack for pulling things together, including family. She was an amazing cook. No matter the holiday she decorated extensively and loved having family in attendance. Everything about her was quality. She took no shortcuts.

In case you are wondering if Mom found love again, she did. She formed a special bond with Mr. Robert Dorty, a bond that lasted over 20 years.

In conclusion, I know this may not be your typical obituary, but if you knew my Mom, she wasn’t typical.

Rest on Momma. We love you, and you will be remembered forever.

Daughter Tammy