Sharon R. Coates

Sharon Reese Coates, 85, passed away November 28, 2024, Thanksgiving Day. She was predeceased by her husband Kenneth Paul Coates and one brother Jimmy Reese. A native of Greer, Greenville County, South Carolina, daughter of the late William James and Nell Wood Reese, she was a graduate of Limestone College, a retired teacher, and a member of Taylors First Baptist Church. Surviving are three daughters, Lisa Coates Lopez of Greer, SC, Cheryl Carpenter (Mac) of Greer, SC, and Julie Hammond (Houston) of Asheville, NC; eight grandchildren, Amie Carpenter, Ashley Martin (Bo), Michelle Williams (Drew), Abbie Carpenter, Coates Carpenter, Caroline Phillips (Evan), Josey Brook (Danny), and Laura Hammond; and five great-granchildren, Griffin, Margo, Elijah, Genesis, and Bennie. A tribute written by one of her grandchildren, Caroline, sums up our adoration for this precious lady who was loved and respected by all of her family and by all who knew her. “On Thanksgiving day we lost our Gammie. 31 years ago same week she and we unexpectedly lost our Papa. So for 31 years it’s been her and her girls and all of the grandkids. I’ve never known a more giggly person. She approached life with such joy and laughter. If you knew the half of the difficulties she has faced, it’s a testament to the joy only the Lord can provide. The verse “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Neh. 8:10 describes her perfectly. She was STRONG and she was JOY FILLED. She made silly t-shirts like one that was her “flying” over the moon on a bike with ET that said “my Gammie loves to travel”, she chased down boys on the beach to embarrass her granddaughters, she would hit the dance floor without hesitation, and it absolutely tickled her to embarrass us by bringing up her granny panties in conversation. She would take us shopping just because and take us all on two week long vacations to Charleston every year. They were filled with experiences and memories that have formed who I am today. Every birthday she sent us cards that had I Love You with the number of “very’s” equivalent to the number of years old we were. It told me that even when we thought she couldn’t love us more, or even when we made stupid choices or unkind words, she somehow loved us more each year. She somehow loved who we were the more she knew us, the good, the bad, and the ugly. That is love. Her voice and her laugh were unlike any others. Her voice was a comfort and a defining attribute. It was filled with candor, and energy, and each person’s name was uniquely different. If I asked them right now, each grandchild could say their name in the very specific way she always said it. And boy did she love singing hideous renditions of Happy Birthday! She loved her Clemson Tigers. She always had one of her pups by her side. She was a masterful seamstress and florist, and her home was a place of great comfort for us. It was full of her beautiful creations, visible evidence of her love for the Lord, and all the things that told her family “you are wanted here.” Lastly and more importantly, she loved God, and His word. One Easter as a child she told the grandkids that if they memorized Psalm 23 she’d pay them each $50. And to this day it’s the best $50 I’ve ever earned because what I got was far better. I got the Word of God hidden in my heart. She knew what she was doing and it was worth so much more. It’s still my go to Psalm in times of struggle or when I don’t what to pray. The last time I saw her, I able to pray those verses over her. Gammie I am so much the woman I am today because of you. I miss you deeply. I rejoice greatly because now you’re finally with Jesus and Papa.” All of us love and miss you very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very MUCH! Private services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Christmas Shoes, 2123 Old Spartanburg Road #165, Greer, SC 29650. Online condolences may be made to www.thewoodmortuary.com.

Sharon R. Coates

January 23, 1939 - November 28, 2024