WILMINGTON — Carol Sharpe Danford, 85, died peacefully in her home on Sunday morning, June 15, 2025, after an extended illness. She was born April 6, 1940, in Wilmington, NC to the late James Milton Sharpe Sr. and Lela Mae Blanton Sharpe.
In addition to her parents, Carol was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jere Leonard Danford; her sister, Ruth Sharpe Howard; her brother, James Milton Sharpe, Jr. (Jimmy); sisters-in-law, Hannah Finch Sharpe, Kathy Danford Edgerton; and brother-in-law, Walter Pappas.
She is survived by her sons, Michael Danford (Mike) and his wife, Nina, and Gregory Danford (Greg). Also surviving are her sister, Shirley Sharpe Pappas; and two beloved grandchildren, Kendall Danford and Kayla Danford Christian.
Carol graduated from New Hanover High School in 1958. Soon after graduating she moved and worked in Washington, DC where she trained as a fashion model before marrying and moving to Bad Kissingen, Germany with her husband Jere, stationed with the US Army. Mike was born in Germany and Greg came along a few years afterward when they returned to Wilmington. In Wilmington she led a fulfilled life as a loving mother and dedicated wife, until the death of her husband in 2000.
Carol loved to travel, and she visited most US states and over 10 countries during her lifetime. She wrote about many of her life experiences in small rhyming poems that she called “my little diddies” and she often shared them with others.
While her main orbit in life was her family, the anchor point of her life was her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a member of Wrightsboro Baptist Church and faithful to God’s Word in her personal life. She loved her church family, and she loved the Lord.
Her later years were plagued by various health-related illnesses and difficulties, but on Sunday morning June 15, 2025, she was made whole again.
A graveside will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at Oleander Memorial Gardens in Wilmington with Pastor Eddie Eaton officiating.
Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family here.
