William "Billy" Charles Sharp

A celebration of the homecoming in heaven for William “Billy” Charles Sharp, age 87, will be Sunday, December 28, 2025, at 2:30 PM at First Baptist Church of Philadelphia with Dr. Dan Howard, Dr. Evan Humphreys, and Bob Nelson officiating. Burial will follow in the Bethsaida Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, December 28, 2025, from 1:30 PM until service time at First Baptist Church. Pallbearers honoring his life are Jason Eldridge, Tayloe Forkin, Steve Winstead, Randy Hanna, Alain Kaboré, and Bunkie Smith. Honorary pallbearers are Max Loper, Bob Henson, Don McKay, Johnny Peeples, Bill Gilley, and Royce Smith. McClain-Hays Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Billy was born in Philadelphia, MS on March 6th, 1938, and passed away December 25th, 2025, at Neshoba General Hospital. He grew up on a small farm in the southern part of Neshoba County and graduated at age 16 as valedictorian of the House High School Class of 1954.

He then attended and graduated from East Central Junior College (now East Central Community College), working on campus to help pay his expenses. At East Central, he served on the BSU Council, was a feature writer and later Associate Editor of the college newspaper, was inducted in the scholastic fraternity Phi Theta Kappa, and named to the East Central Hall of Hame. He remembered the two years spent at East Central as a special time where he met many friends and even met a cute, shy blonde from Scott County who, in years to come, would become his wife.

After receiving a degree in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University, he began a career in highway engineering, almost all of it spent with the Louisiana DOTD. Most of his time was with the Chase District, where he progressively rose from District Laboratory Engineer to District Maintenance Engineer and to District Engineer Administrator before retiring after 39 years of service.

Following retirement, he and wife Louise moved back to Neshoba County where he enjoyed spending time on the old home place, renewing old acquaintances, and growing a garden. Billy also had time in retirement to enjoy his hobbies of travel and photography. He and Louise especially enjoyed seeing and photographing fall foliage across the country and were able to visit all but three of the United States as well as many of the National Parks and several Canadian provinces.

During his 40 years living in Winnsboro, LA, he served in a number of capacities in First Baptist Church, including Sunday School Director, teacher, and deacon. He continued serving as a teacher and several terms as a deacon in First Baptist Church Philadelphia, MS after moving there.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents Alvin and Iris Bates Sharp, mother-in-law and father-in law Bowden and Tressie Riser Sanders, and sister-in-law Evelyn Sanders Forkin. He is survived by his faithful companion and wife of 67 years, Louise Sanders Sharp, daughter Teresa and husband Roger Eldridge, son Mark Sharp, and grandson Jason Eldridge and wife Angella. He is also survived by sister-in-law Beverly Sanders Walker and husband Bubba, and brother-in-law George Forkin and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family greatly appreciates the loving and tender care Melody Howard and Marjorie Wood from Servant’s Heart gave Billy these last several months.

For those wishing to give memorials, suggestions are the World Hunger Fund through First Baptist Church Philadelphia or to The Gideons International for the purchase of bibles.