Tarek JaQuan Odom

Tarek JaQuan Odom, 24, of St. Augustine, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 9, 2018, while doing what he loved best, playing football.
Born and raised in St. Augustine, Tarek attended Webster Elementary and R.B. Hunt Elementary Schools and Sebastian Middle School, and was a 2011 graduate of St. Augustine High School. He went on to graduate from Wofford College in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration and had returned to his alma mater St. Augustine High School to work as a football coach and ISS teacher.
Tarek was unusually gifted with a combination of size, strength, speed, athleticism, an engaging warmth, gentleness and humility. His intimidating physical presence that made him a feared competitor was disarmed only by the warmth of his personality, and that beautiful smile with straight, white teeth, which helped him make friends so easily. Tarek Odom was that rare type of person who never met a true stranger. He had the gift of lighting up a room as soon as he arrived.
His accomplishments on the football field and off are numerous: He was one of the most well-known and accomplished players in Yellow Jackets history, helping his team to reach the state semifinals in 2010 while pulling duty as defensive lineman and running back. As a senior, he had 30 tackles for loss and 12 rushing touchdowns. Tarek earned Super 24 honors, as well as All-First Coast defensive player of the year and overall Player of the Year accolades from The St. Augustine Record and The Florida Times Union. He was also a state champion weightlifter, and had become an icon of St. Augustine sports. He went on to play football for Wofford College and became one of the best defensive players in Terriers history. He played in 46 career games, finishing with 126 tackles and 34 for loss. Odom was an All-Southern Conference defensive lineman in his junior (second team) and senior seasons (first team), and also had a brief stint at professional sports in the Arena Football League.
Beyond his numerous sports accomplishments, Tarek may be even better known for the kind of person he was. In many ways he was a typical young man - he loved his collection of hats, his Air Jordans, hanging out downtown, partying and especially his beard. But it was in relationships that he truly excelled. He had a deep faith in God and was always comfortable worshiping in any church that he visited. He could relate to anyone he met. He had an incredibly close and unbreakable bond with his sister, Kellani.
In the words of his mother, Belinda, "He was that gentle giant, that teddy bear. He was a fun-loving person with everyone he came in contact with. He was one of those people [who] would have no regrets about anything in his life that he did. I feel God said, 'Well done, son. Well done, son. Come on home.'"
There is no doubt that he will be deeply missed and forever loved by everyone who knew him.
He is survived by his parents, Belinda McDowell and Eddie Odom, of St. Augustine; a sister, Kellani Odom, of St. Augustine; a niece, Brakhei Burch; nephews, Brakhel Burch, Brakhes Burch and Brandyn Burch, all of St. Augustine; maternal grandfather, Walter McDowell Sr., of St. Augustine; aunts, Jacqueline Moncrief, Barbara Floyd, Carolyn Wright, Latrina Evans (Myron) and Ruby Riley, all of St. Augustine, and Dr. Donna Riley, of Miami; uncles, Leroy Little (Florence), of Tallahassee, Millard Odom (Paula), of St. Augustine, Vernon Odom Sr., of New York, Walter McDowell Jr., of New Jerse, Mike Williams (Kizzy), of St. Petersburg, Wayne McDowell (Tammie), of Palm Coast, Tracey McDowell, of Daytona, and Aaron McDowell, of St. Augustine; godbrothers, Kendrik Williams, Wynton Simmons, Lumar Jones, Jamar Carter and Kellen Pooler; godparents, Vickie and Andrew Plummer; godfather, Clifford Elmore; godsister, Ramicqua Mitchell; college parents, Lashanda and Bobby Love; and a special friend, Ami Patel.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Anastasia Baptist Church with Pastor Michael McConnell officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Anastasia Baptist Church.
St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.