Funeral services for Linda G. Odom, 63, of Athens will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 30, 2018 at the First Baptist Church Cross Roads under the direction of Bro. Frank Upchurch with burial to follow at Patterson Cemetery in Cross Roads.
After a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer, Linda Odom, age 63 of Athens passed away peacefully on August 25, 2018.
She was born September 10, 1954 to Donald R Martin and Wanda Iris (Stewart) Martin in Gueydan, LA. She worked many years in Project Controls for different companies. Brown & Root Inc. 19 yrs., Capstone Building Corp. 9 yrs. And S&B Engineers 12 yrs. before hearing the dreadful words “You have cancer”.
She is preceded in death by her parents, grandson James Bratley Odom and special friend Lori Dominy.
Linda is survived by her loving husband of 37 years James A. Odom, daughter Christy & Robert Hughes, sons David & Alexis Odom, Brian Odom, Kevin & Katie Odom. She leaves behind her most precious gifts her grandchildren whom she loves the most, more, most more. Grandsons Daymon Odom, Seth McGlaun, Ethan McGlaun. Granddaughters Bailey (Boo) Hughes, MaKayla (Sis) Hughes, Aspen (Appy) Odom, Ally Odom (Mighty Mouse), Grace Odom (the photographer), Glory Odom (the avid hunter & fisherman), Ava Odom, Charlee Odom, great granddaughter Kestlyn Shae McGlaun. She also leaves behind her indispensable, loving friends who stood by her side during this battle, coming to her aid during thick and thin – Pam Clark (you are now ROF’d), Deb Thompson, Dee Perry & Lavonne Stanley. A special thank you to Chris Martin & Robert Vaugh, no matter what she needed ya’ll stepped up and helped her out. A special thank you to Peggy Richardson, Eunice Dozier and Vesta Schilthus. She is so grateful for her weekly calls & love and encouragement. Without ya’ll, her husband and children this would have been a miserable journey. She will forever be grateful & wants you each to know just how much she appreciated it and how much “SHE LOVES YOU ALL!!!!!!!”.
She enjoyed many things in life, her husband, her children, her grandchildren, living in the country & plants, (lots of flowers ask her kids & husband), traveling and nature. Cancer is so cruel no matter which kind you get. The toll it takes on you, your family & friends physically and mentally is beyond description. Cancer doesn’t care how wealthy you are or how poor you are, ethic or race. When you hear the words “You have cancer” your whole being and life changes. She is a firm believer that cancer is a big money maker for the pharmaceuticals companies, but more monies & time needs to be spent in CURING cancer, all cancer.
She would like to say “thank you” to Hope Cancer Center Dr. Joseph Martins & his staff, Dr. Swartwood of East Texas Medical Center, the medical staff of MD Anderson and also God, for giving her the extra time to be with her friends and family & for making her journey as painless as possible. 90% of people that are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer do not make it past the first year. She has been truly blessed to have surpass that and many more.
Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Chapel.
Serving as pallbearers: Jeremy Smith, Jeremy Yarbrough, Paul Marquez, Bud Morton, Dustin Cook and Randy Button.
In lieu of flowers the family would like donations to be made in her memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Foundation.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.
You may light a candle or write condolences to the family at www.hannigansmith.com.