Odom Wesley Mayhan

Odom was born on February 22, 1927, to James Wesley and Lucy Jane Mayhan in Coffeeville, MS – the youngest of seven children. Odom is preceded death by his wife, Mary Cooper Mayhan; daughter, Glenda Joyce Mayhan; and siblings: Willie Mayhan, Frank Mayhan, Jesse Denley, Rhea Barbo, Pete Mayhan, and Frances Melton. He leaves behind his daughter, Sandra Mayhan Wender (Richard); son, Don Mayhan (Linda); grandchildren: Wesley Melton (Leah), Allison Mayhan Webb (Justin), Sarah Jane Lienhard (Jered), Robert “Rob” Melton (Sheridan), Rachel Mayhan, Michael Wender, Kevin Wender, and Caitlin Johnson (Jason); and 12 great-grandchildren. Odom attended school in a one room schoolhouse, worked in the fields with his siblings and left the farm at age 17 to join the Navy in 1945. He was in the Pacific and in Shanghai among other locations before returning home. Odom met Mary while working at the hosiery mill in Grenada, Mississippi. They married on May 30th, 1947, moved to Memphis in 1954 where he worked as a Pressman for the Daily Newspaper. In 1977 he started his own remodeling business, officially retiring after 15 years. He enjoyed his retirement job in the locker room at Southwind Country Club until 2014. Odom and Mary bowled in the Beverly Hills Baptist Church league for many Friday Nights until they bought a boat and began water skiing with family and friends. They moved on to square dancing with old and new friends they met throughout the country, they both enjoyed playing and watching golf and Ole Miss Football. He planted vegetable gardens throughout the years. Odom was a member of the Masons, Shriners and became an Auctioneer. They loved to travel, never meeting a stranger on their trips. While Hawaii was their favorite destination (8 times), they traveled throughout the US and Europe with friends. In recent years they joined the Forever Young Veterans Group to Pearl Harbor and Washington, D.C. Odom and Mary loved their La Belle Haven Church Home and spoke often of how blessed they were to find such loving friends there. While he loved all these activities none were more meaningful to him than spending time with Mary and his family to include his many nieces and nephews. He married the love of his life – never missing a birthday, or holiday without a card or flowers.

“No sad faces – I have had a good life, been blessed to have such a good wife and kids and being a Christian to complete everything. See you when we all get to heaven.”

Dad loved his crazy socks even before it was a thing.

Please wear your crazy socks, bright ties or bright or patriotic colors – he would love it!!

Please consider making donations to LaBelle Haven Baptist Church, Olive Branch.MS (lwww.labellehaven.org) or Forever Young Veterans (https://foreveryoungvets.org)