MARY ODOM

Mary Alice Rausch Odom was born in Jasper, Indiana, January 30, 1918 to William and Mary Rausch. She
a half-brother Maurice, 8 years older and a brother, Thomas, 8 years her junior.
Her family moved to Orlando, Florida when Mary Alice was 4 years old. She attended school there,
graduating with honors in 1936. The following year she attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida.
For the next ten years she was a cashier and office manager for Gulf Life Insurance Company working in
their Orlando, Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida offices.
In 1947 she married William (Bill) Odom, a Gulf Life Superintendent and widower, who had four small
children; Gary, 6, Sue Ann, 4, Judy, 2, and Bill, 7 months. Four years later she and Bill had a daughter,
Robin.
Nineteen Years later in 1966, Bill suddenly passed away at age 46 of a heart attack. For many years Mary
Alice continued raising the family and managing WC Odom Company, a department store that she and Bill
had established in Folkston in 1950.
She was active in the First Methodist Church, served on the Folkston City Council for 14 years, the
Charlton County Hospital Authority, Chamber of Commerce, and Industrial Authority. She was
instrumental in establishing the first public library in Charlton County and was active in Business and
Professional Women’s Club.
Mary Alice traveled extensively throughout the United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Cuba, South America,
Kenya, the Caribbean, Russia, Greece, India, China, Japan and Indonesia.
After retiring, in 1988, Mary Alice moved to an independent living facility in Jacksonville, Florida, where
she continued to be very active both at the facility and in the community. She attended Lakewood
Methodist Church, where she volunteered in the church office and also served as a Pink Lady at Wolfson
Children’s Hospital.
In 2003 Mary Alice suffered a small stroke and moved into an assisted living facility. In 2010 she moved
to Brooksville, FL into an assisted living facility, near 3 of her children. She spent her final days
surrounded by family at the HPHhospice facility. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
HPHhospice, 12242 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613.
She is survived by her 5 children, 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Graveside Funeral services will be held Friday July 8 at 1:00 PM at Pineview Cemetery
Condolences may be expressed by signing the guest registry at www.shepardfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shepard Funeral Home in Folkston, Georgia.