Anita Ratcliff Odom

Anita Ratcliff Odom, 79, of Laurel, died Wednesday, December 14, 2011. A graveside service will be conducted by Dr. Randy Turner of First Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 17, in Hickory Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Odom was born October 27, 1932 in Laurel, MS. She was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Laurel and a former Sunday School teacher of the Junior High Girls Class. She graduated from Laurel High School and served as an executive secretary to her late husband William Harold “Shorty” Odom for more than 50 years. She was a member of the Nahoula Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Docents of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art. Mrs. Odom enjoyed an association with Northeast Jones High School from its inception in 1965, serving as PTO president several times, and was an active part of NEJ Alumni Association Scholarship Committee. She devoted her life to her husband, daughters, and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 60 years, Harold Odom; her mother, Clara Ratcliff; and one granddaughter, Mary Georgia Brown. Survivors include her three daughters and two sons-in-law, Cynthia Odom Rice and David L. Rice, III of Laurel; Barbara Louise Odom of Laurel; Kathryn Odom Brown and Cecil DeMorris Brown, Jr. of London, England; six grandchildren, William Bailey Rice and wife Ashley of Clinton, Andrew George Rice of Nashville, TN, Annalee Aultman Rice Patrick and husband Chad of Laurel, Cecil DeMorris Brown III of New York, Chester Odom Brown of Memphis, TN, and Kathryn Ratcliff Brown Law and husband Simon of London; one great grandchild, MaryCollis Malone Patrick, one brother, Leroy Ratcliff and wife Kate, one brother-in-law, Clyde La Barron Odom; one sister-in-law, Melissa Odom Ridgway; and special care-givers at Brookwood Villa in Waynesboro, MS. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons and grandson-in-law, her nephew Charles Terry Odom, and neighbors Scott Livingston and West Moss. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations to the Northeast Jones Alumni Scholarship fund, 68 Northeast Drive, Laurel, MS 39443. Memory Chapel is in charge of the service.

Anita Ratcliff Odom

October 27, 1932 - December 14, 2011