He accepted Christ at an early age at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church under the teaching of Pastor Moses Owens. January 3, 1993 later on joining Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church under the learning of Pastor Robert E. Cotton.
Odell entered peacefully into eternal rest on November 25, 2025.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Tommie and Irene D. James; brothers, Charles James and Larry James; and sister Beverly Dugat.
He leaves to mourn and cherish his memory: his wife Claudia R. James; daughters Patricia Thompson (Gerald), Anita James (Marvie), Gwen James, and Gloria James; son Odell W. James, Jr (Kailah); his brother Tommie James, Jr. (Cheryl), Alfred James (Nikki), Daniel James (Vickie), and sister Minnie Carter (Foster) and a host of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
