Margaret Johnson Sharpton

Margaret Johnson Sharpton died on Thursday December 6, 2018 at the age of 96. She was born on October 5, 1922 in Lydia Mills, SC, the daughter of the late William Ernest and Docia Abercrombie Johnson. She attended Clinton High School (class of ’39) and Winthrop University (class of ’43). She was a resident of Savannah, GA , Stone Mountain, GA, and Bainbridge, GA for many years prior to moving to Woldenberg Village in New Orleans, LA.

Margaret was married to the late Charles Butler Sharpton, Jr. for 63 years. She is survived by three sons, Charles Butler III (wife – Judy), William Richard (partner – Richard) and Robert Lee (wife – Ruby), four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Esther Johnson Cobb of Charlotte, NC, three sisters-in-law, Virginia Rowe of Honea Path, SC, Miriam Miller of Thomasville, NC, and Barbara Williams of Lexington, SC as well as 18 nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Steven Barry, four brothers, Eugene, Carl, Steven, and Richard Johnson and two sisters, Mary and Dorothy Johnson.

Margaret was known for being the center of the family and using great measures of resolve, consistency, advocacy, love, and a terrific sense of humor to keep things on an even keel. Children were always first in her life. Her ability to support a special needs son and, in later years, a husband with Alzheimers was remarkable.

A bookkeeping major, she was retired from the Internal Revenue Service. Margaret and C.B. enjoyed being Grandparents and traveling and were also avid Atlanta Braves fans.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 12 at 11:00 am at A.S. Turner Funeral Home, 2773 N. Decatur Rd., Decatur, GA. Family will be available to receive relatives and friends at 10:30am. Participants are invited to share stories of Margaret in her various roles of Mom, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Aunt, Sister, and Friend.

For those who wish, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, gifts be made to The Arc in memory of Margaret Sharpton to protect the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 1825 K Street, NW Washington, DC 20008 or via www.thearc.org/tribute-gifts