Charles Odom

Charles Edward “Jim” Odom passed away peacefully, on March 29, 2025, in Marianna, Florida.

Mr. Odom was born on March 12, 1932, in Washington County, Florida where he was raised in a large farming family and lived until he joined the U.S. Army in 1952. After serving for two years, seeing battle during the Korean War, he returned stateside and married Nelma “Nell” Davis of Campbellton in 1954. They started their life together in the Tampa, FL area. During his time in Tampa, he worked at Lykes Brothers and General Electric where he made many lifelong friends. He raised his young family in Seffner, FL, attending Six Mile Creek Baptist and the First Baptist Church of Seffner, eventually serving as a deacon. Mr. Odom and his family returned to Chipley in 1975 and eventually settled in Marianna in 1977.

He purchased the western portion of his brother’s pest control business and was the owner and operator of Odom Exterminating. As he looked towards retirement, he sold the business to his son, Chuck, whom he had brought into the company in 1983. He continued working, although in a reduced capacity, as an exterminator until he was well into his 80’s. He especially enjoyed visiting with his customers, having a cup of coffee, conversing with them during their appointments and passing out bubble gum to their children. He took a great amount of pride in having his customer’s trust throughout the years. Mr. Odom proudly referred to himself as “My Ole Bug Man” and his personalized license plate even read BUGS007. He often joked that, like James Bond he was licensed to kill but only bugs, of course.

Later in life, he was a proud member of the Marianna Optimist Club, First Baptist Church of Marianna, and Popular Springs Baptist Church in Graceville, which is just down the road from where he and his siblings were born and raised. In addition to hobby farming over the years, Mr. Odom enjoyed spending time with his family and was a doting grandfather to his grandchildren.

Mr. Odom was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Nelma "Nell” Joyce Davis Odom; his parents, John Wesley Odom and Abbie Vickers Odom; step-mother, Bessie Vickers Odom; his granddaughter, Lori Michelle Whitman; five brothers, Rufus Odom, Paul Odom, Lloyd Odom, Robert Odom, Doyle Odom; and two sisters, Shirley Odom Ammons and Sadie Ruth Odom Lovett.

He is survived by his daughter, Deborah Ann Odom of Madison, TN; son, Charles “Chuck” R. Odom (Annette); and daughter, Joy Odom Evans (Jared) of Marianna, FL; five grandchildren, Phil Whitman, Weston Evans (Courtney), Alexandra Moran, Hayden Moran and McKenna Evans; three great-granddaughters, Seven Whitman, Maddex Johnson-Montgomery, Layla Evans; a great-grandson, Atlas Evans; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, and friends that he treasured immensely.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the loving care our father and grandfather was given over the years by the staff at Marianna Health and Rehab and the skilled and attentive care that Emerald Coast Hospice provided to him and to us in his final weeks.

Graveside services will be 10 AM, Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Damascus Baptist Church Cemetery, Graceville, FL, with Rev. John Howell officiating and James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing.

A visitation will be from 5-6 PM, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel, Marianna, FL.