A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Odessa Griffin Brackin, 69 of Danville will be noon, Monday, February 16, 2015 at Oakville Christian Faith Center with Minister Carolyn B. Orr officiating and inhumation to follow in East Lawrence Memorial Gardens. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to funeral with Reynolds Funeral Home directing. There will be no public viewing and in lieu of flowers please make contributions to the American Diabetes Association.
Odessa Griffin Brackin was born June 29, 1945 to the union of the late Prentiss Odell Griffin and the late Eva Mae Gibson Griffin in Lawrence County, Alabama. She departed this life on February 10, 2015 at Decatur Morgan-Decatur General hospital.
She loved and cherished Travis Martin Brackin, proving this adoration by marrying him on three separate occasions, with their first union celebrated in 1962. Their final pledge was taken on January 3, 2015. The couple remained devoted for more than sixty years, with many hardships and triumphs along the way.
To this marriage were born four children, two of which preceded her in death: Travis Martin Brackin, Jr. (stillbirth) and Marilyn Jeanette Brackin (April 3, 1974 tornadoes). She is survived by her two daughters: Carolyn Brackin Orr (Frankey Joe) and Rhonda Evette Brackin (Corsell Byrd).
Odessa dedicated herself to her two grand-children, Martin Donte Walker and Alexus Brianne Massey. The arrival of her first great-grandchild, Martin Donte Walker, Jr. filled her cup ‘to over-flowing” followed by the arrival of her great-grandaughter, Mable Jacklyn Walker.
She loved her entire family and sacrificed herself to serve them. She was one of twelve siblings, four of whom preceded her in death: Erskine Griffin, Harold James Griffin, Carolyn Griffin and Cardella Griffin.
She leaves to treasure her memory: three brothers, Thomas James Griffin, Earl Roger (Alberta) Griffin and Kenneth Dewayne Griffin; four sisters, Patricia Taylor, Paulette (Wymond) Taylor, Gloria Taylor and Melissa (Derrick) Glass.
Like many of us Odessa professed Christ at an early age; serving under the leadership of the Late Reverend Willie Walter at Oakville Missionary Baptist Church
In her own words she “became serious about the Lord and salvation” in 1996 when, under the unction of the Holy Ghost, she joined Oakville Christian Faith Center. She faithfully read her Bible daily, studying and meditating on the beloved word of God.
She was a wife, mother, sister, Aunt, friend and a committed servant of God.
In her dying hour Odessa sweetly sang “Joy to the World, The Lord Has Come” before transitioning from mortality into immortality. Just as she lived her life, she exited this world with beauty, dignity and grace.
We bid farewell to our dear loved one…..Your ship has come in.
