Sharon Holley

Sharon Eileen Holley was born March 17, 1948, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Flora Belle McKinney and Ernest Holley; she passed away on Monday, July 31, 2023, in Philadelphia.

Sharon enjoyed life at 268 East Johnson Street in Germantown with her late brother, Frederick Brian Phillips; her late sister, Alexis McKinney; her mother, Flora Belle; and her late stepfather, Thomas McKinney. Sharon attended Catholic elementary and high schools, graduating from Gwynedd Mercy High School in Philadelphia.

Sharon attended Lincoln University from 1966 to 1970 as part of the first class of female students to attend the historically all-male university. While at Lincoln, Sharon became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. She was also a member of the Lincoln University Choir and the cheerleading squad. She graduated with a B.A. degree in English Language and Literature.

After graduation, she served in the United States Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant from 1972 until her honorable discharge in 1975, earning the National Defense Service Medal. She obtained her Doctor of Law (J.D.) degree from Indiana University Bloomington in 1982.

After practicing law in Harrisburg, Sharon moved to Los Angeles to try her hand at screenwriting. Sharon spent several years in California and pursued a career as a tax lawyer with Tax, Incorporated. She also worked as an Education Management professional for Los Angeles Valley College and Fulton College Prep High School.

Sharon was a caring person with a big heart. When her sister’s health began to fail, Sharon left her job and the master’s degree program she was pursuing to drive across the country with only her beloved cat to keep her company. After arriving in Philadelphia, she became the primary caregiver for her sister, Alexis.

Sharon is remembered by close friends as “adventuresome,” “fun-loving,” “quirky,” and “a voice of reason” as she tried to keep them on the right path- sometimes she even succeeded!”. She was constantly in touch with friends and family and loved talking about her niece, Jasmine, and her nephew, Jamali. Sharon enjoyed working on her mother’s extensive family tree of the Carrier family from Lake Charles, Louisiana, and interacting with the associated Facebook group of five hundred family members.

Sharon’s goddaughter Erica fondly recalls how she was impacted by her godmother. “Throughout her years, when Nana Sharon spoke, we all listened; it kept me connected.  I thought this petite woman possessed immense life experiences, knowledge, dignity, and an even bigger spirit. In many ways, Nana Sharon inspired me. She set the tone and example to get a higher education, continually support and protect my family, know where I came from, speak up with intention, and keep God and my family first. Thank you, Nana Sharon, your spirit continues to live in me and those blessed to know you.”

Sharon is survived by her nephew Jamali Phillips of Bowie, Maryland; his two daughters, Zaria and Nia Phillips; her niece Jasmine Phillips of Redondo Beach, California; Jasmine’s son Miles Phillips; her goddaughter, Erika Page Stepter of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; her first cousins Janis Syas of Lake Charles, Louisiana and Patricia Howard Rollins of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and her aunt, Cynthia Ann Thomas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sharon is also survived by her cousins Tina Page Stepter, Brittani Lynn Stepter, Michael Thomas, Nikki Townsend, Marissa Diaz, and Nico Willis. In addition, Sharon will be lovingly remembered by many lifelong friends around the country and by numerous family members in Lake Charles, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Phoenix, Arizona; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.