Paul Bass Photo
Tuesday was too long to wait to send love heavenward to Sharon Clemons.
So hundreds of the beloved salon owner’s friends, family members, and customers lined the sidewalks on both sides of State Street Sunday with balloons ready to soar.
Paul Bass Photo
The gathering took place between Crown and George Streets, where Clemons ran Sharon Joy Salon along with her younger sister, Joy.
File Photo
Sharon Clemons at a 2019 “Black Hairstory” event.
Clemons’ unexpected death last week hit the community hard. Her funeral is scheduled this coming Tuesday. Meanwhile, her close friends Kassandra Johnson and friend Opal Harmon organized the Sunday afternoon gathering to give everyone a chance to release their grief skyward.
They assembled at 2 p.m.
“We needed to do something,” said Johnson, who said Clemons served as a mentor to her since she was 15, teaching her how to cut hair, serving as godmother to her son, imparting life lessons. “We are showing our love, showing how she impacted so many lives. We are sending our love up to her.”
Joy said Sharon’s death at the age of 51, from Covid-19, caught everyone by surprise. She was a vital part of countless people’s lives.
Joy (pictured above at center) and Johnson (to her right) offered brief remarks before the balloon release.
“Every life she touched in her 51 years, this is showing. We thank y’all. Everyone is family to her. Everyone’s a butterfly to her,” Joy said. “We’re going to release the love now.”
“At the count of three,” Johnson called out, “we’re going to light New Haven up with these balloons!”
You can watch it happen in the above video.
Following is Sharon Clemons’ obituary.
Sharon M. Clemons
Sharon Michelle Johnson was born 11:14am on April 11, 1969 in Stamford, CT to the late Herman and Mable Johnson, Jr. She departed this life on Nov 3rd, 2020.
Sharon was raised in Stamford, CT with her sisters and brother. Growing up, Sharon let it be known that she was the middle child and was the favorite of both of her parents (mostly because she was the tattle tale)! She was funny, smart, sarcastic, and loved imitating people. And yes, even in her youth, she was a true trendsetter. Sharon had an amazing way of making each of her siblings feel like they were special. She gave great advice and always used wisdom and prayer for any problem. Sharon fellowshipped at Miracle Faith Outreach and began her walk with Christ at a very young age. At church, she sang on the choir and later worked with the youth. Sharon graduated from Stamford High School.
Sharon attended the Wilfred Beauty Academy in New Haven, CT. While attending, she assisted at the LA Hair Trends in Stamford, CT alongside her older sister LaTrenda. In a short period of time after graduating from Wilfred Beauty Academy at the top of her class, Sharon became a skilled, trendsetting stylist and was intricate in the success of LA Hair Trends II, in Bridgeport, CT. Her talents and leadership allowed for the fast growth and ultimate success of LA Trends III, in Hamden/New Haven, CT area. Her creative talents, ministering spirit, and inner and outer beauty was also at the forefront of the birth of Sharon Joy Salon in 2005. The tag team and partnership with her younger sister Joy simply could not be matched. It is the Sharon Joy Salon experience and Sharon’s personal branded signature weave styles, trademark polished creations and master cutting designs that has and will continue to be branded on the entire Hair and Beauty Industry. Sharon not only used her chair to bring out the inner beauty of each woman who sat there, but she also used it as a way to mother her clients. Sharon was concerned about them holistically: often praying with them and for them, even if it meant closing the shop to do so. She was a woman of love, grace, and a powerful woman of GOD.
Sharon’s love for people and passion for her work caused her to excel. As a result of her tremendous work ethic and blessings from GOD, Sharon became an award-winning entrepreneur. Her work was so impactful that Sharon became well known as a master stylist. She greatly influenced the hair industry as a cutting instructor as well. Sharon’s ability positioned her to give master classes on her innovative techniques. Furthermore, she served as a motivational speaker and influencer to stylist on both local and national stages. Sharon loved to teach, offering group and private classes to help others grow in their craft.
Her works were not unnoticed, because Sharon won many awards, including the Healing Through Hair Award, minority business awards, as well as women’s entrepreneurship awards. Her business acumen was also in demand, as her latest endeavor led her to be a voice on the ReOpen Connecticut Virtual Town Hall.
While these things express the life of an amazing woman, Sharon was so much more. Her desire to assist others was simply second to none. Sharon worked tirelessly to help others. She was a mentor for teens and justice-involved women, giving her time to pour into them. Sharon even started an Annual Christmas Give Back where she would assist single mothers. Sharon was truly in tune to the needs of people, endeavoring once a month to be a true blessing to someone. Her last act of loving-kindness was doing hair for those that were deceased.
Sharon and Erik met in Virginia Beach in 1990 and four years later were married on August 27, 1994 in Bridgeport, CT. She truly married her best friend and lifelong partner. From this union, Sharon was also able to cultivate and pour into her four amazing daughters. Affectionately called her “butterflies,” she instilled in them the importance of education, kindness to others, and how to be beautiful on the inside as well as outside. These things and more were also on her list of things to share as Umi (grandmother).
Sharon had a love for so many things. She loved running. Sharon was a member of the New Haven Dimes Running Club. She loved supporting black owned businesses and sowed into entrepreneurs. Sharon was always investing and promoting the vision and craft of others.
Sharon also loved things like being an artist, nature, knitting, magazines, and travelling. She even took a quick trip to unwind in Mexico recently. But one of Sharon’s lifelong dream was realized when she and Erik went to Africa. After visiting Kigali, Rwanda, Sharon mentioned that no place on Earth could compare to the beauty of Africa.
One word that Sharon worked toward was ambiance. She always seemed to desire intimate moments. Whether it was with candles or music, she sought out those moments. She was a woman of gratitude and grace. Another milestone that Sharon was thankful for was reaching the age of 50. She was so excited to accomplish this, as s tribute to her parents, who passed at younger ages. It seemed that when Sharon reached 50, she celebrated not only for herself, but as if she celebrated for her parents as well.
Sharon was predeceased by her parents Herman A. Johnson, Jr. and Mable E. Johnson; Maternal Grandmother Carolyn Williams; Paternal Grandparents Herman A. Johnson, Sr. and Mary Johnson; Father-in-Law James Clemons: Nephew Kevin C. Wilson, Jr. and Aunt Delores Williams.
Sharon leaves to cherish her memory: Beloved Husband of 26 years Erik M. Clemons, daughters Kiara C. Osborn (Landon); Nyle M. Clemons, Nia Z. Clemons, Kai A. Clemons; granddaughters Mina L. Osborn and Leia M. Osborn who is expected to make her appearance in December 2020; sisters; LaTrenda F. Wilson (Kevin), Monica M. Henman (Sheldon), Starnetta R. Kirby (William), Joy F. Brown (Antonio), Tanya R. Brunson (Wayne), Tammatha McCoy; brother Herman A. Johnson, III; Mother-in-Law Lillian Steadman; Sister-in-Law Dawn Clemons and a host of aunt, uncles, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and a host of family and friends.
