Odessa O’Neal was born on June 25, 1942, to the late Jim Hornbeak and Gladys Hornbeak Sowell in Wrigley, Tennessee. Odessa gained her wings and went home to be with the Lord on March 30, 2021, at TriStar Medical Center in Dickson, Tennessee.

Odessa gave her life to Christ at an early age at the formally called St. James Baptist Church in Wrigley. Tennessee. Odessa was a 1960 Graduate of O.H. Bernard High School in Centerville, Tennessee. The one thing Odessa loved was cheering the Bernard Hawks on.

Odessa worked as a cook at the Wrigley Colored Elementary School. She worked at the Bank in Rochester, NY for many years before moving to Tennessee. She also worked at Francen Division in Fairview, Tennessee for 27 years before her retirement. She loved making people happy by being humorous and loved making delicious cakes and pies for anyone who requested them. She loved cooking, cleaning, shopping and was a sharp dresser. She was a social butterfly; it was easy for her to have a conversation with anyone that she came in contact with. If you ever crossed her path, you would have loved her.

Odessa leaves to cherish her memory a daughter, Wynema O’Neal, Smyrna, GA, Brothers, Fred Hornbeak, Lyles, TN, James Lee (Alma), Lyles, TN, Bobby Sowell (Rosalind), Dickson, TN, Torez Sowell, Lyles, TN. Sisters, Tishie Ramey, Dickson, TN, Joyce Stone, Lyles TN. Uncle,Alvin Harris (Elizabeth), Clarksville, TN. Sisters-in-Law, Barbara Sowell and Roberta Hornbeak, Lyles, TN and Lynette Russ,  Nashville, TN. Brothers-in-Law,  Bro. Jonny Elliott,  Nashville, TN. John Terrell  Franklin, TN, Luther O’Neal  and Devon O’Neal of Nashville, TN.

Odessa also leaves to cherish a host of devoted friends Edith Mayberry, Hattie Burns, Barbara Mayberry, Dorris Mayberry, Barbara Sowell, Elaine Washington, The Carmichaels, Richard O’Neal, Helen Godwin, The Dixon Family, Kim Tarpley, Terry Tyler, Raleigh Satterfield, Thelma Moss, Dorothy Vaughn, Mike and Marie Holman, Bryan Ragland, the Faison’s and a host very devoted nieces, nephews, family, and friends who loved her so much.

Visitation will be April 6, 2021 beginning from 12:00 – 1:30 PM at McDonald Funeral Home – Hickman County. Graveside Services will follow at 2:00 PM at Memory Gardens, Cemetery, Centerville, TN.