Leela Sharma

May 23, 1946 – November 11, 2023

Leela Sharma, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on November 11, 2023. She was 77 years old.

Born on May 23, 1946, in Airoor, Kerala, India to Geevarghese Thomas and Chinnamma Thomas, Leela demonstrated a pioneering, caring, and generous spirit from an early age. She set out from her home at the young age of 16 to support her family by obtaining her nursing degree in New Delhi, India. She began a career in that field shortly thereafter in 1967 in Bikaner, Rajasthan where she met her cherished husband and life partner, Dr. Vidya Dhar Sharma.

Ever the courageous leader and matriarch, in 1973 Leela was the first of her family to emigrate from India to the United States. Dr. Sharma followed soon thereafter, and Leela’s siblings followed with her support--Varghese Thomas (married to Leelamma Varghese), Susan Varghese (married to Samuel Varghese), Thomas Abraham (married to Susan Abraham), and Annie Roy (married to Roy Varghese), also emigrated to the United States in due course. Her younger brother Thampy Thomas (married to Sally Thomas, now deceased) remains in India. Leela eventually settled in Georgia, where she built a life filled with love, joy, and countless memories. She was the devoted wife of Dr. Sharma for 53 years, and the loving mother of two children: Jyoti Sharma (married to Gregory Sale) and Suresh Sharma. Leela adored her two grandchildren, Kiran and Ravi. Leela was also the proud stepmother of Shailesh Sharma (married to Deana Sharma) and Poonam Sharma (married to Dinesh Sharma), and step-grandmother to Aarti Sharma (married to Navin Kulkarni), Puja Sharma, Dylan Sharma and Gracie Sharma.

Next to her family, Leela’s faith, career and garden were her greatest sources of happiness and inspiration. Leela dedicated nearly three decades of service to nursing at Emory University Hospital, leaving a lasting impact on her patients and colleagues. Beyond her professional endeavors, Leela had a zest for life and a devout dedication to her faith in God. When Leela was not otherwise occupied with her work, her family, or her faith, she could almost always be found in her gardens, which she beautifully maintained with great love and care.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at the Eternal Hills Funeral Home, 3594 Stone Mountain Highway, Snellville, GA 30039. A viewing session will commence at 11:00 a.m., followed by a formal service at 1:00 p.m. and burial at 2:00 p.m. In place of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Leela’s memory to Raksha, Inc., a group that works towards healing, empowerment, and justice for South Asian survivors of violence. Donations can be made at https://www.raksha.org/donate/