Ivy “Sandy” Sandra Sharp

Ivy Sandra Bodiford Copeland Sharp, known to all as Sandy, was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Ivy Weldon and Edna Fay (Swindle) Bodiford on July 5, 1937.

Memorial Service: 2:00 pm, Thursday, June 23, 2022 at Eagle Mountain International Church.

She grew up in Fort Worth, graduating from Poly High School in 1955. Sandy married high school sweetheart, Kenneth Copeland in October that year. Their daughter, Terri, was born in 1957 but the marriage dissolved the following year. Sandy met and married Bill Sharp in 1960. Together they had two more children, Gary and Becky. All three children remain in the Fort Worth area.

Everyone who knows Sandy knows she was, and still is, amazing. She was colorful, tenacious, insightful, creative and smart with a quick wit and contagious sense of humor. As a mother she was her children’s loudest cheerleader and their most honest critic. You had to do your best, ’cause she said so!

Sandy was tenderhearted and spent her life putting action to her compassion. Most of her career jobs were directing volunteers or involved in some kind of public service. From crisis hotline calls taken at her house to feeding lonely convenience store workers on holidays, she always sought ways to help the down and out.

Sandy often picked up hitchhikers, by herself, and even brought them home to feed them! Yikes. Then she would call her pastor-daughter to find them a place to stay. It could happen any time, day or night. Sandy kept her angels busy, but her heartstrings were easily pulled.

Her all-time favorite birthday present was a box of cash, water bottles and candy to give away. She let the Lord lead her where to go. She went into a restaurant and asked to give tips to all the kitchen staff. It was just a few dollars each, but they came out banging pans and singing Happy Birthday.

Other times she bought handfuls of lollipops or blankets to pass out. The examples are endless. Even as her health declined and dementia took its toll, she would still look for something she could give, say or do to make someone else’s life better.

To be clear, she was also fiery and intense—one best not crossed too often. Her eyes could sparkle…or throw flames. There was no confusion about where she stood or what she thought. We were glad she was (mostly) on our side. We always felt bad for “the other guy.”

Though some expected her to be bitter toward Kenneth Copeland, she always spoke lovingly about the ministry, the church, and the family in general, to anyone who would listen. She stood up to anyone who questioned his integrity or his message. Until the last two Sundays of her life, she faithfully watched Eagle Mountain Church, followed by her weekly phone call to the pastors to give her review. She took full advantage of being the pastor’s mother and her role as cheerleader/critic.

Her personality and passion combined into a powerful influence that lives on in countless numbers of people, but most especially in her children. We are grateful for such a marvelous heritage!

Sandy is survived by her brother, John Vanston of Austin, Texas; daughter, Terri and her husband, George Pearsons; son, Gary; daughter, Becky and her husband, Mike Talley; three grandchildren, Jeremy (married to Sarah), Aubrey, and Jordan, as well as five great-grandchildren, Justus, Eiley, Kayelin, Jessie, and Piper; nephew, Larry Vanston; nieces, Carrie Vanston, and Helen Mary and husband, Henry Marek and their children; as well as cousins, Dan, Alva, and Betty. The number of loving friends is countless.