Mary H. Odom

Mary Horne Odom

Wagram

Mary Horne Odom passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2014 in Raleigh, NC after an extended illness at The Oakes of Mayview. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Long Horne, Sr. and Mamie Doretha (Bagwell) Horne, her brother John Long Horne, Jr, and her loving husband Leggette (Dusty) W. Odom, Jr.

Mrs. Odom was born on January 29, 1921 in Greenville, NC. Growing up in Greenville, she graduated from Greenville High School in June 1938. The following fall she enrolled at East Carolina Teachers College in Greenville. While studying at East Carolina Teachers College, she joined the staff of the school newspaper, Teco Ecko becoming Editor her senior year. She had an opportunity to interview First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She was also active in the Science club and an avid Pirate sports fan.

In 1942, she received her degree in education from E.C.T.C. The following fall Mrs. Odom began a 30 year career in education teaching science and math in Scotland County. She taught at Gibson, Wagram, Laurel Hill, Laurinburg High, completing her career at Scotland High School teaching Industrial Cooperative Training. She also worked for the US Post Office and 5 years as a reporter at the Laurinburg Exchange.

Mrs. Odom married Leggette (Dusty) Wellington Odom, Jr. on June 22, 1943 in Greenville, NC. They first resided in Gibson where Dusty served as the town Policeman until 1946. They then moved to Wagram when he joined the Scotland County Sheriff's Office.

Mrs. Odom was active in a number of local, county & state initiatives while living in Wagram. She was a member of the North Carolina Legislature, serving as the first woman in both the House of Representatives in 1971-72 and the North Carolina Senate in 1975-76. While in the legislature she supported legislation that positively enhanced women's issues, education, elder care, environmental legislation, mental health & North Carolina's citizens of special needs.

She was an active member of Montpelier Presbyterian Church in Wagram. Mrs. Odom served as moderator of the Presbyterian Women, Elder, Deacon, and Sunday School teacher and as ISSUES COMMUNICATOR for Coastal Carolina Presbytery, Presbyterian Women. After moving to Raleigh, she joined Westminster Presbyterian Church.

After retiring from education Mrs. Odom became heavily involved in Scotland County activities. She served as chairwomen of the Scotland County Election Commission and the Scotland County Democratic Party, also serving in a number of leadership positions. She was instrumental in organizing the local political candidate forums. She served on the Scotland County Planning and Zoning Board, was a member of Sensible Concerns About Toxins (SCAT) and a member of the Laurinburg-Scotland County Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Odom was a member of the Wagram Homemakers and the Scotland County Extension Homemakers Association where she served as a member of the Advisory Leadership Council of Cooperative Extension Service. As member of the Home Extension Service she helped promote and organize campaigns for waste management, promoting recycling, lobbied for protection of North Carolina's rivers. She actively served on the NC Aging Council.

She was a trustee of the Edwin Morgan Center, a member of First Bank's Scotland County Board, a Hospice volunteer and board member. She was Scotland County's representative to the North Carolina Senior Tarheel Legislature where she served as the first Speaker of the Legislature from 1994-1995. She was also a reserved member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Chapter.

Over her many years of active community and public service, she was recognized several times.

She was Pilot Club Woman of the Year in 1966. She was awarded the A & P Leadership Award Leadership Award in 1992 and received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine presented by Governor Hunt in 1996. Also in 1996 she won the First Margaret Hart Hardee Preeminence in Aging Award from the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services for her grassroots advocacy.

Survivors include three sons, Leggette Wellington Odom III (Elizabeth) of Lumberton, John Hubert Odom (Linda), of Raleigh and James Phillip Odom (Dana) of Hastings, NE. Seven grand children and fourteen great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sister in laws, Mrs. Nancy Horne of Portland Oregon and Mrs. Mildred McCall of Laurinburg.

She was an avid Bridge player, and greatly enjoyed many afternoons with the local bridge club, whether playing on the banks of the Lumber River or in the home of friends. She enjoyed watching her sons play high school basketball and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren where she was known as GGMO. She especially enjoyed ACC football and basketball.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, December 12, 2014 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 301 E Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh at 2:00 PM. Family will receive friends after the service in the fellowship hall. Mrs. Odom requested that her remains be donated to the East Carolina Medical School for research. A memorial service will be held at Montpelier Presbyterian Church in Wagram, NC on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 11:00 AM.

Memorials may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church at 301 E Whitaker Mill Road, Raleigh, NC 27608 or Montpelier Presbyterian Church at P O Box 407, Wagram, NC 28396-0407 or to a charity of your choice.

The family would like to thank the Oaks at Mayview and Transitions Life Care for their kindness and dedicated service to our mother.

McDougald Funeral Home and Crematorium is serving the family.

Beacham McDougald

mcdougald@aol.com