A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Odra McKelvy Priest, 87, of Moulton will be noon Wednesday at Freeman Tabernacle Baptist Church with the Reverend Edward Martin officiating and inhumation to follow in Moulton Memory Gardens. The body will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral. The family will receive friends one hour prior to funeral with Reynolds Funeral Home directing.
Odra was the fourth child born, December 28, 1931 to Kermit and Annie O’Neill Boyd McKelvy in Moulton. She departed this earthly life on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at the Lawrence Medical Center in Moulton.
Odra was wedded to Charlie W. Priest on the 29th day of December 1930. Three sons were born from this union; Marlon, Victor and Charlie Jr.
Odra was a 1951 graduate of Rosenwald School. She was employed by the Moulton Health Clinic, the Extension Office and Decatur General Hospital. Odra also volunteered with the Good Samaritans for a number of years. She also served on the Lawrence County Elections Committee as a poll worker.
Odra Priest was a longtime member of Smith Chapel Christian Methodist Church. There, she served on several boards. She was a dedicated member of the Women’s Missionary Society and the choir until her health began to fail. Odra loved her community and was willing to assist others any way she could.
Preceding her in death were her parents; brothers, William B. McKelvy and Kermit R. McKelvy; sister, Sarah M. Smith.
Odra leaves to cherish her memory: her husband, Charlie W. Priest, Sr.; her sons, Dr. Marlon (Leta) Priest of Birmingham, AL, Victor Priest of Moulton, AL and Bill (Heather) Priest of Decatur, GA; sister, Naomi (Thomas) Davis of Courtland, AL; siblings, Cedric McKelvy of Austin, TX and Monica McKelvy of Atlanta, GA; her grandchildren, Bianca, Candace, Whitney, India, Amelia and Charles Franklin; one great-grandchild, Charlie; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends that will honor her memory.
