Odell Bailey, 90, died Friday at Community Hospice at Darlington Oaks. Odell was born in Fulton, but later moved to Arkansas and met her husband, Jewell Bailey right after WWII. Upon ETS from service, Jewell wasted no time. He went straight to Arkansas, picked up Odell and took her to Corinth where they were married on Jan. 8, 1946. They settled in Boonville and there they spent most of their time farming and raising their children, O’Neal and Jerry. Later on they moved to Kirkville and Odell took a job with Hunter Saddler and worked as a seamstress for many years. Odell was a good mother and loving person. She was loved by everyone who knew her. She set a very good example for young couples. She stood by her husband until death. They were married for almost 68 years. Not only was she a good mother and wife, she was a wonderful grandmother and great-grandmother. The great-grandchildren would visit her on a regular basis and she would always be ready with love and sweets. Odell was baptized into our Lord Jesus and was a good Christian woman. She spent a great deal of time reading her Bible and meditating on God’s Word. In her early years, Odell also enjoyed fishing and even hunting. She once saw a goose on the pond behind her house, ran and got the shotgun, killed it, dressed it, cooked and served it. There are not many women like that anymore. She was willing to do whatever it took to take care of her family. She loved painting and gardening. She could paint flowers all day long and raised some of the most beautiful flowers around. Odell also did a lot of driving. Her husband Jewell never drove but Odell continued driving until she was 79. A traffic accident ended her driving, crushing both legs. Doctors said she would never walk again, but through Jesus and much determination she overcame and started walking again. She yearned to get behind the wheel again, so her grandson, Dewayne, bought an antique station wagon and let her drive it one last time. She did well but could not control her legs enough to stop. She rounded a curve and went into a ditch. No harm came, but she and Dewayne laughed about it. She told him not to tell anyone and he agreed. Dewayne felt no need to keep the secret anymore. Odell spent the last 10 years living behind her son Jerry, and it was a wonderful time. We all became closer to her and it was a blessing for everyone. We all love her and she will never be forgotten.
Services will be 3 pm Sunday at the Lee Memorial Funeral Home with Bro. Danny Horton officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 1-3 pm.
Survivors include her 2 sons, O’Neal Bailey (Reba) of Belden and Jerry Bailey (Martha) of Palmetto; one sister, Betty Joe Harris of Oregon; 3 grandchildren, Dewayne Bailey (Allison) and Jenny Rhodes (Robert) all of Palmetto and Regina Duffie of Baldwyn; 2 step-grandchildren, Rodney Oliver (Stefanie) of Tupelo and Penny Clark (Todd) of Pontotoc; and 9 great-grandchildren
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband; 3 sisters, Mary Francis Morgan, Melvirdia Waddle and Carol Lee Burro; 3 brothers, Charles McClung, James McClung and Alfred Rhuben McClung; 1 grandson, Tony Parker
Pallbearers will be Brad Miller, Cody Bost, Logan Nguyen, Layton Nguyen, Robert Rhodes and James Newcomb.
