Billie June Geurin Sharp

Billie June Geurin Sharp, of Little Rock, Ark. died Jan. 22, 2011. She was 80 years old. She was born at home on Jan. 4, 1931 to Nettie Virgil and William Albert Geurin of Little Rock. She graduated from Little Rock High School in 1948 and later graduated from Ouachita Baptist College (OBU). On June 8, 1951, she married her college sweetheart, Charles Marshall "Ike" Sharp at Immanuel Baptist Church. They were married for 59 years. Billie loved children. She was a first grade teacher in Douglas, Arizona for more than 25 years and was especially gifted in teaching English to non-English speaking students. She was a long-time member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional honorary society of women educators. Billie also loved music. She was a church pianist and organist for 40 years. In 1983, she retired to Benton, Ark., and in 1990, she and her husband moved to Arkadelphia to serve as dorm parents of Daniel Hall at Ouachita Baptist University. Particularly loved by students, "Mom" and "Pop" Sharp remained as dorm parents until 2002. Billie loved sports. She was present at any sporting event possible, and was a devoted fan of the Ouachita Tigers. Billie loved to communicate. She had a special ability to communicate with persons of all ages and backgrounds and to recall details and events of each person's life with which she had contact. Even at age 80, Billie was a very active social networker with daily Facebook activity. She was recently preceded in death by her loving husband, Ike Sharp. She is survived by children Paul and Sherrie Sharp, and Dr. Jane Sharp of Little Rock, and by David and Carrie Sharp of Arkadelphia. Grandchildren include Aaron and Tiffaney Sharp and Adam and Julie Sharp of Little Rock, Ashlee Sharp and Jordan Sharp of Arkadelphia. She is survived by one great-grandchild, Aiden Viala Sharp. Visitation will be held at Roller Chenal Funeral Home (501)224-8300 on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 from 6 until 8 p.m. Interment will be at Old Rosemont Cemetery in Benton, Ark. at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25. A memorial service will follow at Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 North Shackleford Road on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 2:30 p.m., with Dr. Gary Hollingsworth officiating. Pallbearers will be Jordan Sharp, Aaron Sharp, Adam Sharp, Steve Grigsby, Ben Grigsby and Steve Geurin. Honorary pallbearers are the men of Daniel Hall at OBU from 1990-2002. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Ouachita Baptist University Athletic Department, 410 Ouachita Street, Arkadelphia, Ark. 71998. Special thanks are given to all of the staff at Home Hospice Care for their loving, end-of-life care. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.