AMERICUS, Ga. —  Mrs. Frankie Vernida Odom, age 79, of Americus, Ga., died Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, 2016, at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, in the chapel of Watson-Giddens Funeral Home with burial to follow in Oak Grove Cemetery.  Pastor Rick Smith and Bishop Jamie Johnson will officiate. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1 p.m.

Mrs. Odom was born April 23, 1937, in Browntown, Georgia, the daughter of the late George and Margie Little. She was a seamstress, having worked with Manhattan Shirt Co. and Windham Manufacturing. Mrs. Odom enjoyed crocheting, making and decorating cakes, including wedding cakes, flowers, and singing gospel music.  She was a lifetime member of the Church of Christ. Mrs. Odom was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Survivors include three daughters and a son-in-law, Frankie Norma Jean (Muffin) Jernigan of Ideal, Ga., Patricia Vernita (Bunny) Mills of Montezuma, Ga., Debra Joyce and William David Wade Sr. of Cordele, Ga.; one son, Thomas Larry (Bo) Odom of Americus, Ga.; three brothers, Johnny Little of Grand Rapids, Mich., Jerry Driggers of Statesboro, Ga., and Jimmy Driggers of Statesboro, Ga. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Jay Wesley Fox and wife Jamie of Glennville, Ga., Christopher George Fox and wife Christal of Oglethorpe, Ga., Frank Allen Belcher III and wife Tracy of Atlanta, Ga., Johnathan Belcher of Deltona, Fla., Tracey Lynn White of Americus, Ga., William David Wade Jr. and wife Rebecca Nicole of Chattanooga, Tenn., Jimmie Allan Odom Sr. of Americus, Ga., and Cheri Lynnette Odom of Leesburg, Ga.; and 14 great grandchildren, Hana, Gracie, Cameron, Daniel, Mackenzie, Ashlyn, Frank IV, Cassie, Cody, Hunter, Grayson, Jimmie II, Caleb, and Madison. Several nieces and nephews, friends and loved ones also survive. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Odom was preceded in death by a husband, Thomas Odom.

Active pallbearers will be David Wade Sr., David Wade Jr., Chris Fox, Frank Belcher III, Richard Loper, and Luke Brown.

The family will be gathering at the home of Larry Odom, 133 Hillside Drive PL, Americus.

You may sign the online guest book and share your own special thoughts and memories with the family of Mrs. Odom by visiting Watson-Giddens Funeral Home’s web site at www.watsongiddensfuneralhome.com

Watson-Giddens Funeral Home of Ellaville, GA is in charge of arrangements.