Ann Sharpe Lowrance Brady, 94, died on Monday, December 4, 2023, at her home in Statesville, N.C.
Sharpie was born to Carrie Mott Sharpe Lowrance and Fred Lowrance on June 20, 1929. She was a graduate of Statesville High School and earned an undergraduate degree in history from Women’s College in Greensboro. She later completed a master’s degree in library science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
On November 10, 1951, she married Robert Elwood Brady. They remained married for nearly 66 years until Bob’s death in October 2017. Their son, Robert E. Brady Jr., died in 1995.
Sharpie was an elementary school teacher before her children were born and later served for 22 years as librarian at Avery Sherrill Elementary School. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Statesville and a longtime member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She served on the Board of Directors for The Historic Sharpe House.
In her later years, Sharpie was an outspoken advocate for social justice and was one of more than 900 peaceful protesters arrested at the North Carolina legislature building on Moral Mondays in 2013.
In explaining why she chose to participate in the movement, she said, “When bad things happen to someone in our state, it happens to all of us.” Citing Micah 6:8, she added, “I went to jail because we are admonished to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.”
Sharpie is survived by her daughter, Ann Lowrance Brady; son, James Frederick Brady and his partner Brian Costley; daughter, Caroline Brady O’Connell and son-in-law Martin O’Connell. Her surviving grandchildren are Olivia and Eliza Kohrman and Patrick, Lauren and John O’Connell.
She is also survived by a sister, Mary Lowrance Stagg; nieces, Mary Catherine Stagg Nimaga, Lissie Stagg, Caroline Johnson and Harriet Johnson; and nephews, Dharam S Khalsa and Richard Johnson. Her sister, Caroline Lowrance Johnson Pedersen died in 2014.
Sharpie’s family will receive visitors on Sunday, December 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Historic Sharpe House, 402 South Center Street, Statesville, NC 28677.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. the following day, Monday, December 18, at First Presbyterian Church, 125 North Meeting Street in Statesville, with Jeremy Cannada and Henry Cowles Bristol III officiating.
Memorial gifts may be given to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 (https://www.hoic.org/); Fifth Street Ministries, P.O. Box 5217, Statesville, NC 28687 (https://www.fifthstreetministries.com/); First Presbyterian Church, 125 North Meeting Street, Statesville, NC 28677 (https://www.fpcstatesville.org/); or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.