Dr. James Donald Sharp

Dr. Jim Sharp (James Donald) MD, age 78, of Fayetteville passed away in the early hours of April 28, 2023, at the Willard Walker Hospice House surrounded by family. He was born on January 26th, 1945 in Orange county hospital in California. He attended the Hillsdale Elementary School then moved to Thayer, Missouri briefly before traversing the Ozarks to graduate from Prairie Grove High School. He attended the U of A completing a Master's Degree in Science and went on to get his MD from UAMS in Little Rock.

He is survived by his loving wife of almost 54 years, Dolores K. Sharp; four obstreperous progeny, Serenity Burzawa of South Carolina, Vale Black of Springdale, Summer Sharp of Texas, and Steve Sharp international man of mystery. A sister, Betty Jo Ezell and her husband James Ezell; sons-in-law Jeffrey Black and Anthony Burzawa; grandchildren Jasmine Black, Theodore Black, Jackson Black, Sebastian Burzawa, and Kasia Burzawa; and nieces Elizabeth Kahn, Marianne Ezell, Becca Ostie and nephew Jim Ostie.

After med school, he interned at Oakland California Kaiser Hospital in internal medicine. Starting in 1972, Jim served his country as Captain and Flight Surgeon in the US Air Force, stationed at Merced Air Base in California.

In 1974, he returned to UAMS in Little Rock for a 4-year ophthalmology residency. Upon completion, he opened an ophthalmology practice in Fayetteville Arkansas. In 1988, he moved the family to Boston for an in-depth retina vitreous fellowship at Harvard and Mass Eye and Ear in his pursuit of knowledge and the intricacies of the human condition. Upon completion, he returned to Fayetteville where he encompassed true bedside manner as a retina-vitreous surgeon. He was a Chief of Staff at Washington Regional Medical Center and helped move it to its present location. During his extensive medical career, he was a member of the American Medical Association, the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Arkansas Medical Society, a Fellow in The American Academy of Ophthalmology, and past president of the Washington County Medical Society.

Dr. Sharp was an active member, Elder, and youth leader at First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville. He was a dynamic participant in the girls' gymnastics class, performed on the balance beam and uneven bars denying the laws of physics. He loved experimenting with new things; he participated in the filming of a True Detective episode, ran up Heartbreak Hill in a race, and a leg in the Hogeye Marathon.

When not gainfully employed at the hospital, Dr. Sharp could be found jogging, biking for miles, gardening, or cooking. He was an avid traveler who never met a stranger. He enjoyed sharing cultural experiences with friends, colleagues, and exchange students, having in-depth, high-level parleys regarding any topic with his loquacious ability.

The family would like to give special thanks (no words can describe these exceptional humans) to Carolyn Cloer, Dr. David Clay, Kathryn Duncan, Brent Morgan, and Jeff and Lora Hayes.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the First United Presbyterian Church, 695 E. Calvin St., Fayetteville. A reception will follow immediately after the service.

Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the Broyles Foundation, PO Box 30, Elm Springs, AR 72728.