Billy Joe Odum

Billy Joe "B.J." Odum, age 84, passed away Friday, April 17, 2015 at his home in Bartow. Born in Lakeland on Jan. 3, 1931, he was the son of the late Walter Conrad and Lessie Golden Odum. Mr. Odum was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He retired as a Production Supervisor from I.M.C. Phosphate after 40 years of service and was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Lake Garfield. Billy Joe is preceded in death by his wife Hazel Odum in 2010. He is survived by two sons: Joe Odum (Leila) of Grove City, OH, Conrad Odum (Vicki) of Bartow, his sister Pat Coker of Lakeland, three grandchildren: Brian Odum (Julie), Alicia Hartman (Chris), Brittney Davis (Terry) and six great grandchildren. The family will receive friends Friday, April 24, 2015 from 10am to 11am at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow. Funeral services will follow at 11:00am at the funeral home chapel. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Lake Garfield building fund, 1170 Eighty Foot Rd. Bartow, FL 33830.