John Ocial Sharpton

Mr. John Ocial Sharpton, 91, retired co-owner of Maury Auto Supply and resident of Porter Circle, died Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at The Bridge at Life Care Center of Columbia. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Jacob, Rev. Jimmy Gardner and Rev. Thomas Vann officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Tennessee Honor Guard. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4 - 8:00 p.m. and Saturday after 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to the Dwight Sharpton Scholarship Fund, Martin Methodist College, 433 West Madison St., Pulaski, TN 38478. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Lawrence County native was the son of the late William Grant Sharpton and Della Currie Sharpton. The family moved to Columbia when he was eight years old and he attended Maury County schools. On February 14, 1942 he married Ruth Inez Sims Sharpton who preceded him in death September 25, 1996. Mr. Sharpton served in the United States Army during WWII and received a medal for bravery for the extraordinary heroism of the 476th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion for their efforts in assaulating and holding the Japanese-occupied Biak Island near New Guinea in 1944. Mr. Sharpton was an avid golfer who shot four Holes-In-One during his lifetime, the last one when he was 84 years old. He was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19 and a member of Craft Memorial United Methodist Church for eighty-three years. Survivors include his son, Mike (Bettye) Sharpton of Columbia and grandchildren, Julie (Robert) Thompson, Ashley (Eric) Carnahan and Michael Sharpton all of Columbia. He was preceded in death by a son, John Dwight Sharpton, granddaughter, Elizabeth Halsey Sharpton, and brothers, Edsel Sharpton and Allbie Sharpton. Active pallbearers will be Jack Hudson, Bob Bohrman, Dr. William N. Jernigan, Gary Montgomery, Don Eiklor, Joe Kuchinski, Bobby Hemphill, Robert Thompson, Eric Carnahan and Michael Sharpton. His golfing buddies will serve as Honorary pallbearers.