Earnest Lee ‘Shorty’ Odom

Published 8:40 pm Monday, January 31, 2011

Mr. Earnest Lee ‘Shorty’ Odom, 91, died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011 at a Mobile health care facility after a brief illness. He was a native and life long resident of Brewton. He served 38 years with the Merchant Marine, including service during World War II, and received the Merchant Marine Combat Medal. He was a charter member of Seafarer’s International Union 0-47 and attended New Bethlehem Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Easter Smith Odom; his parents, Eric Visher Odom and Lottie Mae Johnson Odom; three brothers, Cecil Odom, Johnny E. (Ruby) Odom and Berton (Pat) Odom; one sister, Ella Mae Odom (Charles) Seay; and one grandson Donnie Ray Odom.

He is survived by a son, Earnest L. (Mamie) Odom Sr. of Satsuma; two daughters, Judy Darlene Whigham of Mobile and Linda (Richard) Loper of Fruitdale; four brothers, Autrey Odom and Billy Ray Odom, both of Atlanta, Ga., James ‘Pete’ Odom of Atmore and Ronnie Odom of Birmingham; five sisters, Sally Mae Roche of St. Louis, Mo., Shirley Agate of Mobile, Irma Jean Wescott of Panama City, Fla., Delores Rawls of Atmore, and Charlotte Marie Odom of Oklahoma; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and Earl and Sarah Self.

Visitation will be held at New Bethlehem Baptist Church on Wednesday, Feb. 2, from 10 to 11 a.m.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m. at New Bethlehem Baptist Church with the Rev. Tim Whigham and the Rev. Jessie Bohannon officiating. Burial will follow at New Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery with Craver’s Funeral Home directing.