Sharon Jean (Perkins) McReynolds

Sharon Jean McReynolds (Perkins), age 79, passed away peacefully on May 28th at her home in Overland Park, Kansas. Born on January 22, 1946, in Kansas City, Kansas, she was the daughter of Harold and Charlene (Lasley) Perkins. A dedicated lifelong member of 8th Street Baptist Church, Sharon was a faithful servant of God for 54 years. She was deeply committed to her faith community.

Sharon grew up in Kansas City and graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1964. Notably, she desegregated the school and was crowned Jabberwocky Queen during her time there. She continued her education at Donnelly College, earning an Associate of Science degree in 1967. In May 1994, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of attending college when she earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management.

She married Michael McReynolds on February 20th, 1965, at 8th Street Baptist Church, and their marriage lasted 58 years. Together, they raised two children, Damon and Danielle. Sharon was incredibly devoted to her family, making them her top priority and rarely missing any of their events.

She dedicated over 40 years to AT&T, retiring from the company in 1998. Her career began as a mail clerk in the Personnel Department, followed by roles in the Employment Office and Foreign Directories. In 1974, she transitioned into programming, becoming an application programmer in 1975. While programming was not her passion, she excelled in it—often serving as a team leader and mastering over 20 programming languages. Her expertise in updating and maintaining systems was highly valued. She continued sharing her skills by programming for other companies until 2010. Her daughter Danielle often sent her students’ work for review, and Sharon happily offered tips to improve efficiency.

Beyond her career, Sharon’s passions included reading, movies, and participating in her weekly Bible study. She actively supported voter rights campaigns and followed political news closely. A longtime member of the Johnson County NAACP, she was committed to community causes and social justice. Described as a quiet woman with a great sense of humor, Sharon formed lifelong friendships and left a legacy of kindness and connection. Above all, she was a passionate supporter and champion of her family, especially her children and grandchildren. They were her world and her favorite topic of conversation.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael; her parents; and her brother, Dwayne Perkins. She is survived by her beloved son Damon; daughter Danielle (Jim) McReynolds-Dell of Oakland, CA; her grandchildren Lilian, Abigail, and Natalie Dell; brother-in-law Terry (Bernice); sister-in-law Andrea; her best friend Wandra Minor; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

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