Mollie Viola Odom

A long-time resident of Holopaw, Florida, Mollie Viola Odom, died Monday, July 6, 2009 at Plantation Bay Rehabilitation Center, St. Cloud, FL. She was born January 22, 1910, in Narcoossee to James Daniel and Nettie Richards Crosby. She weighed 2.5 lbs at birth and was the oldest of ten. She grew up at the Old Place located at Elbow Branch near Holopaw and shared the various house and farm duties. She met Joe Odom in 1952 and they married in 1955 in Robertsdale, AL. They later returned to Holopaw where the small trailer on what is now Newman Avenue was called home. She loved flowers and the front yard was kept weed and grass free, white sugar sand that was raked and clean. She loved to sit on the front porch and could see the cars pass by on the highway. Joe Odom passed in 1996 and Mollie continued to live in Holopaw until 2002 when she became a resident of Plantation Bay. Her room filled with trinkets and tidbits, photos, flowers, and stuffed animals her visitors would bring and the love that was left behind. Soon Room 104B became home. She had a favorite sitting spot at the North Wing nurses station where she could see outside and watch all that was going on with the nursing staff and other residents. She was loved by all. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe; sons Joe Odom, Jr., James Odom; sisters, Mattie Henderson, Isabelle Parker, Leona Sanderson; brothers, James Crosby, Edward Crosby, Jackson Crosby and Eli Crosby. She is survived by her sons, Bill Odom, Johnny Odom; daughters, Louis Lambert and Lillian (Vi) Gafford; sisters, Gertrude M. Murrey and Mariel King; an endless number of nieces nephews, friends, and her extended family and caregivers at Plantation Bay. A graveside was held Thursday, July 9 at Mt. Peace Cemetery, St. Cloud, where Pastor Tim Allen officiated.

Special Memories Shared:

I loved and will always miss them both. I spent a lot of time in my young years staying with them in the summers. What fun, fishing, driving tractors on the Mormon Ranch where Granddad worked and they lived. I remember when Molly got her new refrigerator / freezer and Lord help you if she caught you putting your dirty fingers on it. She would chase me around the house for dirty fingers on her refrigerator. Molly's love for my Granddad was one all should share because this is rare in today's times. She would fix his meals every day, on time and hot black coffee was always on the stove. She kept her home so clean you didn't want to even sit down. Her flowers in the yard were Granddad's number one job around the house.
Michael Odom, Son of Joe Odom and oldest grandson


I remember every Friday, without fail, was floor cleaning day. All furniture was moved to the yard and the floor was scrubbed with broom and mop and rinsed with buckets of water. Then the furniture was brought back in. I also remember her starching and ironing pillow cases and sheets, wrinkle free. I love her dearly and she will always remain dear to my heart.
Clara Nell (Story) Rowe

As a child living on the Mormon Ranch, I remember she and Uncle Odom coming down to our house to visit on Saturday nights and sitting on the front porch talking about times past and predicting what was to come, our many fishing excursions, and times when I would go to their house and make a cake. She was there overseeingand making sure there was no mess! In more recent years, at her request, I became her legal guardian and had the opportunity to help her transition to her new life as resident at Plantation Bay. We shared many special moments during this time. If she was in bed when I came to visit, she always wanted to get up and when it was time for me to leave, she always asked when I was coming back. She was a survivor! I love and miss her!
Patty (Story) Kishbaugh


Mollie was always small. On the farm, she did some field work, but mostly worked in the house. Once she chopped one of her big toes almost completely off. They (Ma, Pa and Grandma) stuck it back on with turpentine, wrapped it up, and it reattached. She regained full use of the toe with feeling. In later years, we exchanged phone calls daily so I could make sure she was okay. She loved her flowers and working in the yard. She kept it weed and grass free! She kept the white sugar sand raked and cleaned. That's the way we grew up as kids at the Old Place. The inside yard was white sugar sand, weed and grass free, and no animals were allowed. I love and miss her, but I know she's in a better place now.
Gertrude (Crosby) (Story) Murrey, Sister