Sharon Ray Andretta

Sharon Ray Andretta, 61, of Alpharetta, Georgia died peacefully in hospice care on May 21, 2023. Sharon was born November 22, 1961 in Cookeville, TN as the middle of three daughters. Sharon spent her childhood in Nashville, TN until her family moved to Lilburn, GA in 1973. Sharon graduated from Parkview High School in 1979. She then went on to Georgia State University where she was an active member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Sharon’s love of people, dedication and compassion helped her become very successful in her career. She worked in benefits and Human Resources across Atlanta for almost 40 years including positions at Dun & Bradstreet, Coca-Cola, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Georgia Tech. For the last 11 years she worked at Kaiser Permanente/The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, most recently as the Director of Human Resources. From 1986 to 1996 Sharon was proud to welcome five nieces and nephews into the world. She loved them like her own kids and always made them believe they were the best thing to happen to her. She encouraged them through hard times and celebrated their victories. Sharon was the fun aunt, always up for doing something to make memories. On a blind date in September 2014 Sharon and Roger first met and quickly fell in love. They loved to watch football and baseball, host meals with their family and go on tropical vacations. On October 2, 2021 they said “I do”. Sharon and Roger threw the best party of the decade with a room full of love and laughter surrounded by their closest friends and family to celebrate their marriage. Roger brought a wonderful family into Sharon’s life including his parents, sisters and four kids she would call her “bonus kids”. In her free time, Sharon loved spending time with her nieces, nephews and bonus kids. She greatly enjoyed the friendships she made playing tennis with Ruby Forest, volunteering at The Vine church and the fellowship with her book club group. Sharon was an avid Georgia Bulldog fan and attended nearly all home football games since the 1990s. For many years Sharon and Roger went every Saturday to a Georgia or Auburn game. She was a planner and well-organized in everything at work and home. Sharon was known for remembering important dates and always sending thoughtful notes or texts to the people she cared about. Sharon was a loyal, trusted friend whose wit and wisdom impacted many lives. She maintained close friendships with a circle of lifelong friends, especially the sisters of Alpha Xi Delta. When she found out she had cancer she was most concerned about taking care of everyone else. She courageously fought non-small cell lung cancer for three months. Giving thanks for Sharon’s life are surviving members of her family; her husband Roger, mother Lyla Fay Clark Ray, sisters Deb Clinard (Mark) and Kim Dills (Chad), nieces Leigh Cummings (Craig), Kati Dills, Maggie Clinard, nephews Jake Dills (Katie) and Sam Clinard, bonus kids Joseph, Julia, Sophia and Francesca Andretta, father and mother in law CJ and Joy Andretta, sisters in law Nancy Riley (Peter Martin) and Barbara Andretta Worth (son Trey), great niece Vivien Cummings, great nephews Walt Cummings, Colton Dills and Collin Dills, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and loving friends. Her father, Donald Lee Ray, greeted her in heaven for her father-daughter dance just 20 months after her wedding. Visitation will be held Thursday, June 1 at 7 PM at Northside Chapel (12050 Crabapple Rd, Roswell, GA 30075). A celebration of life officiated by Rev. David Walters will be held on Friday, June 2 at 11 AM at Alpharetta First United Methodist Church (69 N Main St, Alpharetta, GA 30009). A reception will be held at the church following the service. Arrangements provided by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors in Roswell, Georgia. In remembrance of Sharon’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Winship Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society or the hospice care center of your choice. (See below) The family sends immense gratitude to the doctors, nurses and hospice care team who helped Sharon during her final phase of life, especially the nurses at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital, staff at AccentCare Hospice- North Georgia and the Kaiser family of physicians. Charitable donation details: Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute, Radiation Oncology Fund, Office of Gift Accounting, 1762 Clifton Road NE, Suite 2400, Atlanta GA 30322 Or online donations can be made at https://together.emory.edu/give?q=radiation%20oncology in memory of Sharon Andretta. American Cancer Society- Visit https://donate.cancer.org/ select donation and click on “I want to dedicate my donation” in memory of Sharon Andretta.

Sharon Ray Andretta

November 22, 1961 - May 21, 2023