Joyce Elaine (Herring) Sharp

Joyce Elaine (Herring) Sharp, 91, affectionately known as “Mom”, was born in Columbus, Ohio, on July 7, 1934, and transitioned peacefully at home in bed on March 7, 2026. Through her journey of 91 years, she touched many lives with her wisdom, humor and an unwavering spirit of perseverance.

Born to James C. Herring and Nellie Kate Thompson-Herring, she was the third of six children. Mom took pride in being raised in Poindexter Village, they were amongst the first families to move into the community, when she was 4 years old. She attended Mt. Vernon Elementary and Champion Middle School. She graduated from East High School, Class of 1952. Joyce continued her education at The Ohio State University, in the Fall of 1953. She married Hubert (Robert) Sharp, Jr. on April 15, 1955.  She was blessed with three beloved children—Glenda, Robert, and Ronda—who remained a central part of her life and legacy.

Even from a young age, she was known for her bright smile and infectious laugh, qualities that remained a hallmark of her warm and joyful spirit throughout her life. She was a devoted & involved
Grandmother. She did school pick-ups & drop-offs, taking them to activities & attended their games and graduations. She cherished spending time with her family, who could always count on her to maintain the tradition of weekly Sunday dinners. Around her table was always a place of laughter and love. It was a given that every day when her grandchildren arrived home from school, a “light snack” (e.g., pork chops, fried chicken wings, or fried fish on Friday on a slice a white wonder bread) would be ready for them. She always completed the day by feeding her family a full-course meal of ham, turkey, dressing & gravy, sweet potatoes, greens, cornbread, plus a dessert. She loved to cook, grill & bake and was known for her famous yeast rolls, pound cake, banana pudding and many more delicious treats. Mom looked forward to weekly grocery shopping trips with her daughters and grandchildren, which she called going ‘Kroger-ing.’

Mom was a gifted gardener with a legendary green thumb that could make anything grow. She nurtured a collection of roses in her front garden, which proudly included a rose bush transplanted
from her own mother’s home, cultivating a beautiful legacy. She enjoyed going to Oakland Nursery, often spending hours there, marveling at all the beautiful plants & flowers before carefully deciding what to pick and add to her own garden.

Joyce began her career working for the Robert & Mary Lazarus family. Her involvement in her beloved Poindexter Village community led to employment with ‘The Model Cities Program’ from
1966 to 1974. This was a federal initiative for inner-city neighborhoods tasked to create local programs that would address improving citizens everyday life, in areas such as education, transportation, housing, and health. Through this work, she played a pivotal role in helping bring the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program to families in Columbus; this afforded her the opportunity to meet President Lyndon B. Johnson. Her work cultivated a passion for Civic Engagement & Leadership. She later continued her dedication to public service in 1974 with the Columbus Police Department, where she faithfully served for 20 years; Joyce made history as one of the first African American women to be an Emergency Communications Technician, '911 Dispatcher'. She was known for her efficiency, compassion, professionalism, as she handled high-stress emergency calls with remarkable grace and calm, demonstrating excellence. Her ability to remain composed under pressure while guiding callers through moments of crisis earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues and police officers.  Even after retiring in ‘94, she continued to listen to her police scanner. She often ran into Police Officers around the city that recognized her for her great work.

After retiring, Joyce’s vitality & love for staying active never slowed. Eager to remain engaged & close to her grandchildren, she took on a role with Columbus City Schools, working in Food Service as a cafeteria employee, in schools where her grandchildren were students. Her warm personality and nurturing spirit quickly made her a favorite among students and staff alike. Joyce also worked as a seasonal employee with the Ohio Department of Taxation, continuing her commitment to service and productivity. Never one to sit still, she embraced these roles with enthusiasm, finding joy in staying busy and being present in the lives of her grandchildren. Joyce’s life was rich with love, purpose and family. She was proud to be the Matriarch of 5 living generations. Mom’s legacy of strength, determination, and wit will be carried forward by those who had the privilege of knowing and loving her.

In addition to her parents, Mom was preceded in death by husband, Hubert (Robert) Sharp, Jr.; sisters: Joan (Donald) Drake and Helene (William) Minor; and brother, Carl Herring; sisters-in-law: Huberta (Sanford) Williams, Judy (Julien) Sharp and Priscilla Smith; brothers-in-law Richard Bradley, Howard Knowles, and Aaron Smith; her nieces, Cheryl Minor, Linda Holly, Wendy Mickens, and Traci Sharp; her nephew, Steven “Butchie” Williams; and her Old Lady Gang/Golden Girl: Kate Palmer.

She is survived by and will be deeply missed by her children: Glenda, Robert, and Ronda Sharp, all of Columbus, OH; her sisters: Patricia Ross-Smith of Sugarhill, GA; and Marshia Kate Herring of Berkeley, CA; her grandchildren: Preston (Ieasha), Renata, and Robert Dean, Kasual, Shanell, Shannon, and Tyler Sharp; 9 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Rita Bradley, Martha Knowles, and Wanda Herring; special friends, Ann McInnis and Old Lady Gang/Golden Girls: Lavina ‘Kitty’ Howard, Lucille Perry, and Patsy Townsend, her Massillon family, along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.

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