Odessa S. Holland

Born on June 14, 1943, in Nueces County, Corpus Christi, Texas, Odessa Spears Holland was a fraternal twin of Otis Spears and the fifth of ten children born to Mr. Cornelius and Mrs.Willie Mae Hopkins Spears. Positioned as the middle child, she was known for her spirited nature and a deep protective instinct for her younger siblings.

Early Life and Faith: Odessa grew up in Corpus Christi, where, at the young age of eight, she accepted Christ as her savior during a summer Vacation Bible School at St. John Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor J. T. Stewart. She remained an active member throughout her youth, playing the clarinet in the St. John Band and regularly attending Sunday School and Bible Training Union (BTU).

Education and Integration: Odessa attended Corpus Christi public schools, starting at Booker T. Washington Elementary School. During the era of desegregation, she was one of the pioneering young Black students selected via a lottery to integrate previously all-white public schools. She attended and graduated from Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi. Following high school, she pursued higher education, attending Del Mar Junior College in Corpus Christi and later Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas, where she majored in Business with an emphasis in Accounting.

Her community involvement included being presented as a debutante, sponsored by the Ladies of Camellia of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Career Milestones: Returning to Corpus Christi from Kingsville, TX, Odessa immediately became active at St. John First Baptist Church, where she served as the church secretary. Her responsibilities included developing church programs, managing daily operations, teaching Sunday school, working with the youth, and participating in the women's mission and choir.

Odessa made history as one of the first Black people to work as a teller at Corpus Christi National Bank. She later married Eddie Holland of Forest City, Arkansas, and the couple moved to Dallas, Texas. In Dallas, she worked at Dallas Alliance Minority Enterprise (DAME) before moving to the accounting department of Dallas County as a bookkeeper. Odessa eventually returned to Corpus Christi and worked as a clerk for the Nueces County Attorney's Office, where she retired.

Retirement, Legacy, and Family: Odessa dedicated her later years to a fulfilling retirement in Houston, Texas. She was an active and faithful member of the Church Without Walls under the leadership of Pastor Ralph Douglas West. Her spiritual life was enriched by her participation in bible study and member of the S.A.L.T. Ministry.

Odessa truly loved her hobbies, finding joy in cooking, particularly baking bread and pies, singing, and gardening, where she demonstrated a remarkable green thumb.

Family and Enduring Legacy: Odessa was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Cornelius and Mrs. Willie Mae Hopkins Spears, her beloved son, Shawn Deprice Holland, and. She was also preceded in death by four brothers (Arthur Gene Spears, Carl Spears, Otis Spears (Maria Spears), and Abner Spears) and two sisters (Marjorie Spears O'Neal (Rev. Rufus O’Neal) and Joyce Lee Spears), as well as sister-in-law: Geraldine Wilson Spears.

She leaves behind a legacy of cherished memories and a loving family, including: Two Daughters: Elisa Holland Hennekam (Glenn) of Fulshear, TX. LaShaunda Holland Miles of Houston, TX; Two Grandchildren: Isaiah Miles and Akayla Woodson of Houston, TX; Siblings: One sister, Dr. Beverly A. Spears of Houston, TX, Two brothers, Lee A. Spears (Ada) of Corpus Christi TX. and Marvin Spears (Linda), of Nashville TN, Two Sister-In-Law's, Ray Bonnie Spears (Carl) of Houston TX and Willie B Spears (Abner) of Corpus Christi, TX One Uncle: Maynard Spears Sr. (Sylvia) of Los Angeles, CA., and a host of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

The family and friends will forever cherish the memories of Odessa in their hearts.

"Every Journey has its End, but the end is the Journey that Counts"

Author Unknown