Today it is with saddest regrets that I report the death of the long time Chaplin for GSFA, Pastor Sydney Odom. Chaplin Odom had been in declining health for some time and today rejoined his longtime companion Cloma and his Savior Jesus Christ. Chaplin Odom served GSFA and the entire fire service with dignity, grace, […]

Today it is with saddest regrets that I report the death of the long time Chaplin for GSFA, Pastor Sydney Odom. Chaplin Odom had been in declining health for some time and today rejoined his longtime companion Cloma and his Savior Jesus Christ. Chaplin Odom served GSFA and the entire fire service with dignity, grace, and humility. He will be remembered for his kind spirit and close walk with God. Please remember his family in your prayers. His arrangements are as follows and you may sign the on-line guestbook here.
May God rest his soul.

Lanier Swafford
GSFA President
Pastor Sydney H. Odom, 86, entered into rest on Friday, November 30, 2012.

Pastor Odom was born on December 7, 1925 in Columbus, Georgia to the late S.H. Odom and Florrie Ridgeway Odom. With pride and honor, he served his country during WWII in the United States Army, and went on to graduate from Mercer University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1949 and from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in 1953.

Brother Odom pastored many different churches in his career including: Sharon Baptist Church in McDonough, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Cordele, Indian Springs Baptist Church in Indian Springs, Georgia, and Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Talbotton, Georgia, all while he was a student at Mercer University; Homer Baptist Church in Ada, Oklahoma and Eagle Mountain Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, for both of which he was the Founding Pastor; Tabernacle Baptist Church in Vidalia, Central Baptist Church in Warner Robins for ten years, Oak Grove Baptist Church in Carrollton for six years, Broad Street Baptist Church in Hawkinsville for three years, and Centerville Baptist Church in Centerville for ten years. Sydney also served as Interim Pastor at First Baptist Church in Bonaire, Shirley Hills Baptist Educational Ministry, Chamlee Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Valley, and Westside Baptist Church in Centerville. He later returned to Central Baptist Church and served as the Associate Pastor for Family Ministries, but his most recent role was as Visitation Pastor.

He was also very involved in many organizations with responsibilities such as: Moderator of Daniell, Rehoboth, and Carrollton Baptist Associations, Teacher for Mercer Extension Schools, and Trustee of Brewton Parker College. He served on the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee and the State Committee on Cooperative Program budget. Pastor Odom was also a Chairman of Evangelism for the Rehoboth Baptist Association, Chaplain for both Heart of Georgia Hospice and Georgia State Fire Fighters Association. He also served as a Volunteer Chaplain for both Centerville and Houston County Fire Departments and Days Inn of Warner Robins.

Pastor Odom loved serving people. He officiated over 1, 000 funeral services, weddings, and visited countless patients in nursing homes. He was genuinely blessed to have the opportunity to serve people with deep need. Sydney also had a passion for photography and took pictures of weddings, families, anniversaries, school groups, and church events.

His memory will forever be treasured by his loving children, Phebe Settles (Jim), Macon, Georgia, Pamela Akin (Joseph), Hamilton, Georgia, and Dr. S. Howard Odom, Jr. (Karen), Canton, Georgia; grandchildren, Nan Pownall, Kenneth Settles, Glenn and Alan Akin, Emily Carlisle, and Susan Odom, Sharon van Rossum and Brian Odom; ten great-grandchildren; and sister, Jane Routon, Fayetteville, Georgia.

The family will receive friends and family from both 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at McCullough Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 3, 2012 at Central Baptist Church where the body will lie in state prior to the service from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Parkway Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the Heart of Georgia Hospice, 103 Westridge Drive, Warner Robins GA 31088 or to Central Baptist Church (Lottie Moon mission offering) 1120 Lake Joy Road, Warner Robins GA 31088.