Benita Dell Brown Sharp: A Life Dedicated to Education and Community
Benita Dell Brown Sharp, a longtime resident of Crockett, Texas, passed away on February 8, 2026, at the age of 92. Her life was marked by a dedication to education, a strong family bond, and active involvement in her community.
Early Life and Education
Born on June 19, 1933, in Wortham, Texas, to Lewis and Clarabell Brown, Benita experienced a significant change in her childhood when her mother passed away when she was 12 years old. Following this loss, her family relocated to Mexia, where she completed her high school education.
Benita continued her academic pursuits at Sam Houston State Teacher’s College, where she met her future husband, Billy Sharp of Crockett. They married on September 4, 1953, in Mexia, and remarkably, completed their degrees as a married couple. Their life together took them to various locations, including Huntsville, Houston, Crockett, Fort Dix, Recent Jersey, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Teague, Texas.
A Career in Teaching
Benita Sharp dedicated 32 years to the field of education as an elementary school teacher. She taught in the Houston and Bellville school districts for much of her career, ultimately spending her last 15 years at Crockett Elementary. There, she earned a reputation as an exceptional and compassionate educator. Even after retirement in 1992, her passion for teaching continued, as she helped her grandchildren with their reading using magnetic letters.
Family and Legacy
Benita was preceded in death by her husband, Billy; sons, Billy Wayne and Baby Boy Sharp; her parents, Lewis and Clarabell Brown; and brothers Billy Brown, James Brown, A.T. Brown, Darwin Brown, and Esau Brown.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Barry and Suzanne Sharp of Temple, Texas; daughter-in-law, Jeanna Driver of Houston; granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Bethany and Fred Rodriguez of Aubrey, Texas; grandson, Benton Sharp of Crockett; great-grandsons Maddox, Rylan, and Wilder Rodriguez of Aubrey; and her close friend, Patsy Lock of Baytown.
Services and Memorials
A lifelong Methodist, a memorial service was held at 10:30 a.m. On Friday, February 13, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church in Crockett, where she had been a member for half a century. Visitation preceded the service at 9:30 a.m. Interment followed at the Evergreen Cemetery in Crockett. Revs. Cindy Doran and Barry Sharp officiated the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Benita Sharp’s name to the J.H. Wooters Crockett Public Library, located at 709 E. Houston, Crockett, TX 75835, to support their mission of promoting reading and education within Houston County. Online condolences may also be left through Callaway-Allee Funeral Home.