Lahonda Sue Cordell Sharp, 71, of Sugar Land, Texas, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Sunday, August 23, 2020. Lahonda had a positive attitude and a resilient spirit until the end, passing with grace and peace following her courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded in prayer by her family and loved ones.

Lahonda was born in Duncan, Oklahoma on August 17, 1949 to J.E and Dorothy (Stotts) Cordell, who preceded her in death.

Lahonda's journey of service to Christ through pastoral music ministry was a great passion of hers. As a life-long Christian, she was inspired to love all God's children and to exemplify acceptance and grace to those she met.  Lahonda was a truly gifted musician, evident early on, singing "The Lord's Prayer" at three years of age at First United Methodist Church in Duncan, OK.  She continued to enjoy singing throughout her school years, and in high school, she was a member of the Duncan High School choir.

Lahonda loved the ballet and was a principal soloist at the Wichita Falls Ballet Company. She earned her Bachelor's degree in choral conducting from Texas Christian University in 1971 where she held the office of President of Mu Phi Epsilon, the honorary music sorority.

In 1970, prior to her college graduation, Lahonda married Keith W. Sharp from Duncan, Oklahoma, and as her final year at TCU approached, they welcomed their twin girls, Angela and Andrea. As a devoted mother, Lahonda introduced her girls to the fine arts, involving them in music and dance, and had them in church as often as the doors were open.

In 1976 the family moved to Sugar Land, where Lahonda served as the music director at Advent Episcopal School, teaching elementary music and leading the chapel services for sixteen years. In 1983, during her time at Advent Episcopal, Lahonda was hired by Christ United Methodist Church, Sugar Land, where she served as Director of Music and Fine Arts for thirty-three years. As the founding music director there, Lahonda established a reputable program forming choirs for children, youth, and adults, including hand bells, and instituted The Fine Arts Academy, offering instruction in dance, drama, visual art, voice, piano, and numerous other instruments. Her love for exceptional worship was evident in the many creative and thematic services she created at CUMC. Lahonda furthered her education earning her master's degree equivalency in Sacred Music studies at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University (United Methodist Church Music Certification).

Lahonda was a widely respected musician as she shared her musical talents around the world conducting and leading her adult choirs at various international festivals and singing in world-renowned cathedrals. She conducted the choir at General Conference of United Methodist Church in 2008 and numerous times at the Texas Annual Conference. She also served on the Division of Worship of the Texas Annual Conference (TAC) for over a decade. She served as guest conductor with Gerald Wirth of Vienna Boys Choir at Mozart's Church in Vienna (St. Stephens Cathedral) for "Sing Mit" Festival in Vienna, 2016, conducted choir and orchestra at Carnegie Hall in 2002, 2005, and 2019.  She served as guest conductor of Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra for Requiem by Faure in 1998, and the guest conductor in Coventry, England at the International Church Music Festival, 1996.  She also conducted the choir performance at the World Methodist Conference 2016. She conducted concerts in historic churches, cathedrals, and concert halls in fifteen countries, including Wesley Chapel, London, Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, and Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland. Lahonda also served on the executive board for numerous organizations including the Texas Conference Choir Clinic since 1996, Texas Chapter of Fellowship of United Methodists in Music & Worship Arts, and Reconciling United Methodists Texas Conference, formerly Breaking the Silence. Her last few years of service in the church were spent leading the music ministry at First United Methodist Church of Fulshear, and First United Methodist Church of Missouri City.

Lahonda is survived by her beloved twin daughters, Angela Sharp and partner Sean Sutherland of Houston, Texas, Andrea Quintanilla and husband Robert of Houston, Texas, her three grandchildren; Logan Quintanilla, Sydney and Brooklyn Sutherland, her loving brother, Mike Cordell and wife Charlotte of Denton, Texas, his two children, Scott Cordell and wife Genny of Murphy, Texas, with children, Kade and Kylie, and Stephanie Baro and husband Richard of Murphy, Texas, with children, Brayden and Andrew, and a host of many family members,  friends and colleagues.

There will be an intimate memorial service on Saturday, September 19, 2020, 1:00 pm, at First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd, Missouri City, TX 77459 with the Rev. Tom Pace officiating. Everyone is invited to live stream the service at www.fumcmc.org as strict social distancing rules must be followed at this time. A grand Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date when all of the many people who loved Lahonda can be in attendance, as well as a large choir and orchestra assembled to perform her favorite works. The family appreciates your understanding. Lahonda was loved by so many and will be dearly missed. She is undoubtedly now continuing to serve God in the choir of angels.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.gracefulmemorialchapel.com .

In lieu of flowers, you may send donations in Lahonda's memory to the music ministry of First United Methodist Church, Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd, Missouri City, TX 77459.