Reginald Odom

1943 - 2024

Reginald Walstein Odom, age 81, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024, at NMMC in Tupelo. Reg was born on June 30, 1943, to Walstein Gertman and Thelma Louise Crenshaw Odom. He was an Air Force Veteran (ret.) and a retired schoolteacher. Reg was a member of the Gideon's International, Pontotoc Historical Society, and the Pontotoc County Retired Teachers. He served in various capacities in all three. He was also a member of Lawndale Presbyterian Church in Tupelo where he served as a Deacon for many years before getting emeritus status. Reg enjoyed telling stories, reading, teaching, woodworking, working word puzzles and number puzzles, and received the greatest joy in life by helping others.

Reg spent 21 years in the USAF with his first assignment after initial training being at Galena, AK, then to Columbus AFB, MS, where he met and married Joyce - a W girl at the time. She joined him on most of his Air Force adventures with tours at Ramey AFB in Puerto Rico, KI Sawyer AFB, MI, Chanute AFB, IL, and Laughlin AFB, TX. His last assignment took him to Shemya AFB, AK. While in the USAF, Reg completed his first degree in Psychology from Eastern Illinois University. During his time in the USAF, he taught at the Air Force Fire Technical School, Lakeland College, Sul Ross State University, and Laredo State University.

He retired from the USAF to Pontotoc and completed his degree in Elementary Education at the University of Mississippi. He taught 5th grade at North Pontotoc Attendance Center for fourteen years before moving to Pontotoc City Schools where he had many adventures from setting up the Alternative School to teaching World History and his several years teaching 8th grade Computer Discovery. He was much beloved, and you couldn't go anywhere with him in the Pontotoc area without someone yelling some variation of "Mr. Odom!!" and coming up to tell him what had gone on in their lives since they had last seen him.

Reg spent a lot of time helping others - from going on missions' trips to the Delta where he helped the people of the Delta as well as teaching the young people from church how to properly and effectively wield tools. He helped in the clean-up from Hurricane Katrina and various tornadoes in the north Mississippi area - many people owe their ability to use a chainsaw and a hammer properly to his tutelage.

A memorial service will be held after the New Year and will be announced on the Browning Funeral Home website. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Gideons' International to send Bibles would be preferred.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Joyce Rackley Odom; a daughter, Audra Odom; a son, Wali Odom (Shelia); three sisters, Jackie Odom Wilcher, LaFaye Odom Long and Teresa Odom Roberts; two brothers, Ronald Odom and Milton Odom; and four grandchildren, Rebecca Odom, Kayla Odom, Reginald Walstein Odom, III, "Trey" ,and James Malcolm Odom; and two great-granddaughters Amber Nichole Odom and Katherine Constance Moubry "Katie" and a host of nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be offered at www.browningpontotoc.com