Jacqueline Elaine Sharpe nee Cheeks, Retired Navy Nurse Corps Captain, was born on July 7, 1949 and passed away peacefully at her home on December 13, 2024. She was born in Spartanburg, SC and was the daughter of the late Harold S. Cheeks and Willie Lee Jones.  She was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Dr. Isiah R. Sharpe, III and her brother, Ivan Jones.

She graduated with her Bachelor's of Nursing from Winston Salem State University;  her master's degree in Nursing is from the University of Maryland and her Ph.D. from Old Dominion University (ODU).

Dr. Sharpe was a licensed registered nurse for 53 years, with nearly 30 years as a Navy Nurse Corps Officer, culminating to the final rank of Captain (O6). She moved progressively through her career from being a staff nurse to Director of Nursing. She has been awarded several Navy medals and ribbons for her outstanding dedication and performance as a Navy Nurse Officer.  Her last duty station consisted of her being the Head of all Education and Training at Portsmouth Naval Hospital as well as Head of all Navy Medicine training and education for the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Dr. Sharpe was selected by ODU to start the undergraduate public health concentration and assisted with the start-up of the graduate program in public health. Dr. Sharpe was the sole writer for the 25-year-old Health Sciences Degree Program when it received its first and second Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) national certifications. She started the Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society at ODU and was a member of 3 national honor societies and 9 other professional organizations, including the College of Healthcare Executives. She received the Excellence in Teaching Award twice while at ODU and received numerous professional awards.

Her interests in the healthcare field were many including: administration, management, public health, and health disparities. Dr. Sharpe's research priority was working with vulnerable populations to improve health outcomes. She has written several articles that have been published in different national and international health journals.  At the time of her death,  Dr. Sharpe was a Program Director and Professor at Hampton University working on her grant proposal for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases for NIH.  She was also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

She is survived by her children, Victor Sharpe, Sara Sharpe, Jaclyn Sharpe, and Sean Sharpe; siblings, Beverly Brent, Amelia Cheeks, Terry Cheeks, Harold Cheeks and Charles K. Jones; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and host of wonderful, loyal friends who she loved and cherished dearly, and are considered family as well.