Joe Lee Sharkey Sr.

Joe Lee Sharkey Sr., 81, of Blytheville, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. He was born July 7, 1929, in Tupelo, Miss., to Lee Sharkey and Blanche Griffin, who preceded him in death.

He was an employee of the City of Blytheville and a member of the Faith Temple House of Prayer.

He leaves his wife, Pearlie Sharkey of Blytheville;

Six daughters, Ruthie Sharkey Johnson of Douglasville, Ga., Martha Mays, Deloris Bryant, Christy Sharkey, Precious Sharkey Coleman and Pearlie Nichole Sharkey Randal, all of Blytheville;

Nine sons, Willie Joe Love Sharkey, Roscoe Sharkey, Joe Sharkey Jr., John Sharkey, Terry Sharkey, Melvin Sharkey, Billy Sharkey and Fredrick Sharkey, all of Blythville, and Earl Sharkey of Marietta, Ga.;

Three sisters, Maggie Sharkey, Gladys Sharkey Mattison and Louise Sharkey, all of Carthage, Miss.;

Three brothers, Matthew Scott of Mississippi, Ollie Sharkey of Detroit, and Arthur Lee Sharkey of Carthage, Miss.; and

Fifty-seven grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Faith Temple House of Prayer with Bishop Robert Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens.

Visitation will be from noon until 1 p.m. at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Wilson Funeral Home of Blytheville.