Odell Williams

SMSGT Odell Franklin Williams, U.S.A.F. (Ret.), 80, of Sutherland, passed away Monday, May 31, 2004 at his residence. He was the son of the late Charles Earnest and Nora Dodd Hudgins Williams of DeWitt. Also preceding him in death were two brothers, Harvey A. Williams and Charles E. Williams, Jr. and three sisters, Florence Williams Murdock, Ethel Williams Anderson, and Mildred Williams. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Betty Anne Abernathy Williams formerly of Blackstone; his son, Odell Franklin Williams, Jr. and wife, Christine Rhodes Williams of Carlisle, PA; his daughter, Victoria Ann Williams Onley and husband, M. James Onley of Sutherland; three grandchildren, PFC Jeremy Franklin Williams, United States Army, First Infantry Division, currently serving in Iraq, Pamela Williams of Carlisle, PA, and Dana Onley of Sutherland; a brother, Milton “Mac” Williams and wife, Mabel Mason Williams of DeWitt; five sisters, Edith Williams Seibert of Bedford, VA, Aileen Williams Zahradka and her husband, George Zahradka of Prince George, Sarah Williams Stigall of DeWitt, Ercelle Williams Wallace and husband, Robert Wallace of McKenney, and Christine Williams Holland and husband, Irvine Holland of Colorado; many nieces and nephews; a very dear and devoted brother in Christ, Creighton Jones; and three devoted caregivers, Christine Cook, Sally Lloyd, and the late Veronica Lloyd Bishop. Mr. Williams retired from the U. S. Air Force after 33 years with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. He served in World War II in the Pacific Campaign and in the Korean Conflict as a Flight Engineer. Following his retirement, he was employeed by Dominion Virginia Power and retired with 32 years service. He was a former member of the Wilson-Hebron-Ford Ruritan Club and a charter member of the Sutherland Ruritan Club with a perfect attendance record. He helped establish the DeWitt-Rocky Run Ruritan Club and the Darvilles Ruritan Club. He held many offices on the club and district level including Zone Governor and District Governor for the Appomattox District. He was awarded the Outstanding Senior Citizen in Dinwiddie Award by the Ruritans in 1969. In January, 1999, the Ruritan National Foundation awarded Odell the Tom Downing Fellow Award, the highest honor that can be awarded in appreciation of unselfish personal effort. He was a member of Dinwiddie Lodge #136 A.F.&A.M. since 1966 and a charter member of the Dinwiddie Volunteer Rescue Squad. He was a very active member of Ocran United Methodist Church since 1960 where he served in many offices which included Chairman of the Board, Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of the Cemetery Committee, and a member of the choir. He was also a member of the United Methodist Men and was awarded life membership on May 30, 2004. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 4, at Ocran United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gene C. Tatum, pastor, the Rev. Harry Byrd Jones, and the Rev. Darwood Rowan, both former pastors officiating followed by interment with full military honors in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the church with Masonic Rites beginning at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ocran United Methodist Church Building Fund, 20807 Cox Road, Sutherland, VA 23885 or the Dinwiddie Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 10, Dinwiddie, VA 23841. The Williams family is being served by the Petersburg Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Homes.