Geneva Odom

Geneva (Geny) Adell Goins Odom, 97, passed away at her home March 28, 2012. She was a graduate of the Old Central Grammar School and attended Bradley Central High School. She was a lifelong resident of Cleveland and with the encouragement of Dr. Madison Trewitt began a nursing career during the WWII at the Physicians & Surgeons Hospital. Nursing immediately became her passion and she became one of the first Licensed Practical Nurses in Cleveland. Dr. E. R. Ferguson who owned the hospital and had a Eye, Ear Nose and Throat practice there, picked her to be his assistant and she worked with him until his death. Afterward, she became the assistant to Dr. Wayne McCulley, DDS, where she remained until she retired. She loved her family, her nursing career, her home, her church, singing and most of all her Lord and Savior. Her love of singing manifested itself in the groups that she sang with. Geny and Jim sang in a gospel quartet when they were younger and she was a member of the "Andrew Sisters" in the "Lawrence Welk" group in Cleveland until her late 80's. She was an active member of the North Cleveland Baptist Church where she could be found every Sunday in Frankie Wolgamott's Sunday School class until her health kept her from attending. She was preceded in death by her husband James W. (Jim) Odom, her Father, Wilford Goins, Mother, Loma, step-mother Ida, brother Haven, and sister, Edna. Geny was blessed with, and is survived by her two children, Barbara Ervin and husband Don of Cleveland, and Jimmy Odom, Sr. and wife Nickie of Daniel Island, SC; six grandchildren, Neal Ervin and wife Cherie of Cleveland, Dwight Ervin and wife Wendi of St Louis, MO, Jill Calfee and husband Eric of Dalton, GA, Jimmy Odom, Jr. and wife Jeanette of Simpsonville, SC, Shana Meyer and husband Mike of Daniel Island, SC, and Heath Odom and wife Kimberly, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; seventeen great-grandchildren, Bradley Ervin and wife Caroline, Laura Ervin, Drew Ervin, Brooke Ervin, Bret Ervin, Cole Calfee, Caroline Calfee, Hannah Odom, Jimmy (Jay) Odom, III, Jackson Odom, Reese Odom, Grant Odom, Gabrielle (Gabby) Meyer, Jake Meyer, Ben Meyer, Cade Odom and Chase Odom, and one great-great-grandchild, Westley Ervin. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Pearl Goins and nephew Preston. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 on Friday, March 30, 2012 in the chapel of Fike Funeral Home with Chaplain Dwight Ervin officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. The family will receive friends from 11:00 - 1:00 at the funeral home prior to the service. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Odom family guestbook at www.fikefh.com.