Emily Odom

Emily Peay Odom, 83, a resident of Benton and formerly of West Palm Beach, FL, passed away, Tuesday, February 5, 2008 in an Etowah healthcare facility.

She was a member of Benton United Methodist Church. Mrs. Odom was previously the Chairman of Volunteers for the American Red Cross in Tokyo, Japan and the Navy Hospital in Orlando. FL. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 1947 in the School of Business and Industry and after graduation maintained her own accounting business.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Creyton Bell Peay and Loulie Gaston Oakley Peay; brothers: Mirion Oakley, Frank Oakley, Joe Peay; and sister: Blanche Hodges.

She is survived by her husband, Felton H. Odom; daughters: Beth Howell (Mike) of Midland, TX, Gwen Collins of Sanford, FL, Jane Emily Busquaert (Dean) of Napa, CA; 5 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; sisters: Annis Goss of Clarksdale, MS, Kitty Grafton of Milton, FL; brothers: John W. Oakley and James Peay of Starksville, MS, and Jeff Peay of Maben, MS and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, February 9, 2008 in the chapel of Higgins Funeral Home with the Reverend Mat Merker officiating. Interment will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday in Chattanooga National Cemetery with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service.

Her family will receive friends from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m Saturday at the funeral home prior to the service.

Memorials may be made to Benton United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 845, Benton, TN.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Odom family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.