The Life Story of Odessa Brown

A Time of Birth… Odessa Brown was born August 30, 1923 in Blair Oklahoma. She was the second child born of seven daughters to Inita Mae and Willie Wright. Later, Odessa's parents moved her and her sisters to Frederick, Oklahoma.

A Time of Education…Odessa attended Boyd High School in Fredrick, Oklahoma. Odessa's mother was a seamstress and made all of her daughters' dresses. Because Odessa was fashioned-minded and enjoyed the finer things in life, she started working at an early age so she could purchase her own clothes. She even worked at a cleaners. As a young girl, Odessa joined First Baptist Church in Frederick Oklahoma where Reverend O. B. Davis was the pastor.

A Time of Marriage…After a lengthy courtship, she fell in love with Chester Brown. They were later united in holy matrimony. To this union one son was born, Jerry Brown. She was a devoted mother and housewife. However, they later divorced and she moved to Dallas, Texas.

A Time of Living/family…Odessa was employed by the Sangers' family of Sanger Harris Department stores for many years in Dallas, Texas until she retired. After her retirement, she worked setting set up sales stands for various stores. She enjoyed sewing, gardening and watching football games in her pastime. Her favorite team was the Dallas Cowboys and her favorite player was Terrell "T.O." Evans. Odessa traveled to many places with her best friend, Gernell Marie McClendon. She would always say that "she had lived a full life." She adored being with her family at holiday dinners and showing off her cooking skills.

A Time of Church…Odessa joined the St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas where she was a dedicated member for 68 years. She always told her family and everyone she met how much she loved her church and pastor. In fact, when her family attended her church for her 90th birthday, her family gave her a special offering. She in turn, donated it to St. John as an appreciation of her love. She expressed her love by working in various church ministries such as the Deaconess Board, the Hospitality Committee, and the Iris Garden Club.

A Time to Receive Her Reward…On Saturday, March 6, 2021, God called her home. Odessa was preceded in death by her son, Jerry Wayne Brown of Los Angeles, California; her parents, Initia Mae and Willie Wright of Frederick, OK; her sisters, Willie Mae Eddings of Frederick, OK; Coletta Wright Watson of Oklahoma City, OK; Mella Lee Sallis of Phoenix, AZ; Mattie Jean Miles of Oklahoma City, OK; Betty Joyce Ulmer Reynolds of St. Paul, MN; and Shirley Bobbie Haywood of Dallas, TX.

A Time to Leave Precious Memories…Odessa leaves to cherish her memories a host of nieces, nephews and other loved ones and friends.