James Nelson Odom of Raleigh, North Carolina died on January 26th, 2024.  He was born in Dyer County, Tennessee on October 9, 1935.  He served 22 years in the United States Air Force and retired at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.  Sergeant Odom was decorated for meritorious wartime service in Southeast Asia and was disabled by an instrumentality of war.

Later he served in federal civil service and worked in the aerospace industry.  He was a former representative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee and later represented Lockheed Advanced Development Projects (Skunk Works) on the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council.

He graduated from Newbern High School in Dyer County, Tennessee in 1953, Golden Gate College in California in 1971, and the University of Maryland in 1974.

He was married for more than 50 years to Hanna Tappe Odom, his one and only love. He is survived by their daughter, Sue Ann Odom Creech of East Greenbush, New York, son, James Luther Odom of Willow Spring, North Carolina, and grandchildren, Drew Creech and wife Hannah, Liam Creech, and Anna Creech, all residing in North Carolina.

Preceding him in death were his wife Hanna, sister Marcia Inez Odom Thomas, brothers Captain Luther Riley Odom Jr. and Jere Freeman Odom, parents Luther Riley and Vera Inez McCulloch Odom, daughter-in-law Sharon Odom, special sister-in-law Helga Tappe Martin, and his Aunt Mittie and Uncle Will Bradshaw who raised him after his mother died.

He loved his little girl dogs, Buffy and Aggie, and they loved him back.

Funeral services will be held on February 2nd, 2024 at Montlawn Memorial Park, 2911 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh, North Carolina, for interment with military honors at the grave site of his dear wife Hanna. Visitation will be at 12PM, with the funeral service beginning at 1PM.