Paul Odom

Dr. Paul LeRoy Odom passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Regional One Health in Memphis, Tennessee. Visitation will take place at First Baptist Church, Water Valley, Mississippi on Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with the funeral service to follow at 1:00 pm. The Rev. Randy Bain will officiate. A private family graveside service will follow with military honors at Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley. 

Dr. Odom was born on August 18, 1934, in Jackson, Mississippi to E.H. Odom and Mittie Belle Odom. He was raised in Tchula, Mississippi where he served as class president of Tchula High School. Thereafter he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He then graduated from the University of Mississippi and moved to Jackson where he attended and graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine on June 2, 1963. He interned in Mobile, Alabama and completed his Residency in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. His first position was in radiology in New Orleans.

Practicing medicine was his true calling, and he served as a family practitioner for more than sixty years. Dr. Odom’s first medical practice began in Southeastern Kentucky in Appalachia. He and his family resided in Elkhorn City, Jenkins, Ashcamp and Pikeville for over twenty years. Dr. Odom made a huge difference in one of the United States’ neediest and impoverished regions, building a clinic and pharmacy. He was Chief of Staff of Pikeville Hospital and treated and certified Black Lung Disease for miners of the coal fields for decades.

Dr. and Mrs. Odom later moved to Destin, Florida and established another medical practice. He eventually moved permanently to Water Valley where he tripled the Yalobusha County Hospital’s capacity and served as Chief of Staff. He built a new clinic and nursing home where he served as Medical Director. He was also the Medical Director of the Mississippi State Veterans Home of Oxford.

Among his many honors, Dr. Odom was an Eagle Scout, a Paul Harris Award Fellow for the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and a Kentucky Colonel. Other honors and accomplishments include serving on the Board of Directors for the Destin Rotary Club; President of the Elkhorn City Men’s Club where he was recognized for Distinguished Service; and recipient of the Braswell Hatcher Service Award for the Water Valley Chamber of Commerce.

After moving to Water Valley, Dr. Odom and his wife, Ervalene, were members of the First Baptist Church, and he was one of their Sunday School teachers for years.

He is predeceased by his parents, two brothers (Wallace and Herman), and a son, Steve. In addition to his wife of 50 years, he is survived by his older sister, Lavonia Osborne, his son, Mike Odom (Emilie), his three daughters, Linda Heath (Read), Sara Odom and Molly Odom as well as four grandchildren, Asher (Sarah) Odom, Jenn Odom, Adam Brandland and Jordan Brandland. He is also survived by his beloved Yorkies, Maggie and Lucy.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Water Valley, or the charity of your choosing.