Clayton Brant Sharp, Sr., was born August 4, 1961, to parents Nancy and Jerry Sharp. Although a native son of Huntsville, Alabama, he thrived while attending the University of Georgia. There he discovered the two loves of his life: Sheila Terrell and UGA athletics. As a student, he was present for the National Championship Game at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and cheered on Georgia basketball’s only Final Four run in 1983, cementing his status as a Dawg for life.
On September 22, 1984, he wed Sheila. This was in the evening, of course… after witnessing Kevin Butler’s legendary 60-yard field goal against Clemson. Brant graduated with degrees in Psychology and English Literature, but with some prodding from Sheila he started working towards a Master of Taxation at Georgia State. He was as practical then as he was always—after earning a position with Ernst and Whinney in Atlanta, he dropped his studies one semester short of his degree to start work. Despite that, his strength of character and work ethic propelled his career to eventually become Vice President of Tax at ARRIS.
As a devout man of faith, Brant was known to attend Sanford Stadium on Saturdays and church on Sundays. He was an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction, with a library rivaled in size only by his beloved bourbon collection. Brant was also an accomplished world traveler, becoming a “million miler” with Delta thanks to his travels with Sheila and work. In his later years, Brant and Sheila traveled the country for Georgia’s away games, including the bourbon paradise of Lexington, Kentucky, the Rose Bowl, multiple Sugar Bowls, and the long-awaited national championships in Indianapolis and Los Angeles.
Brant’s drive extended to a competitive spirit in all kinds of sports—specifically tennis, basketball, and pickleball. That athletic zeal motivated Brant to complete multiple sprint triathlons and led to some of his closest friendships. After retirement, Brant discovered pickleball, founded the pickleball club in the Cresswind at TwinLakes community, and later became Ambassador for the nascent Jackson County chapter of the U.S. Pickleball Association.
In April 2022, Brant was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive malignant brain tumor. He refused to allow that diagnosis to prevent him from living his life to the fullest, taking off to Europe for a Rhine River cruise within weeks of his craniotomy in May. After his one year “cranniversary,” he travelled to his bucket list destination of Hawaii, celebrating over a bottle of contraband Pappy with the family who smuggled it aboard the cruise ship.
On January 31, 2024, Brant passed peacefully at home, surrounded by family and close friends. He is now believed to be in the heavenly company of John Wayne, Lewis Grizzard, and Larry Munson. He was preceded in death by his mother Nancy Berry Cobb, sister Elizabeth Sharp, and father- and mother-in-law John and Johnnie Terrell. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years Sheila, daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Evan Whatley, son Clayton Sharp, Jr., father and stepmother Jerry and Laura Leigh Sharp, brother Chris Sharp, father-in-law C.J. Cobb, nieces Gabrielle Cobb and Emily Sharp, cousin Bobby Nabors, fur children Madelyn and Festus, and fur grandchildren Harvey and Puck.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation and Agape Hospice Care. The Foundation’s research helped Brant and countless others beat the odds and experience a higher quality of life while fighting the relentless beast of glioblastoma. At the end of Brant’s life, Agape provided compassionate care for him and his family.
A memorial service will be held at Ivy Creek Baptist Church in Buford, Georgia, on Sunday, February 18th, at 2:00 PM.
Memorial Park Braselton Funeral Home, 5257 Green Street Hwy 53, Braselton, Georgia 30517 is in charge of arrangements. Send on-line condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.
