TRIBUTE TO DIANNE ODELL

The West Tennessee community-at-large, and especially the City of Brownsville, is saddened by the loss of Dianne Odell, who at age 61 passed away after a power outage and failure of a backup generator rendered the iron lung she'd lived in since age 5 inoperable. We're sad for the Odell family's loss, but Dianne is now free. She's gone to live with our Lord. Her body is now perfect and she's no longer in pain or confined to her iron prison. I can just imagine her spirit running, skipping, jumping, and singing at the top of her lungs.

While I didn't know Dianne personally, I knew of her and had heard of her many accomplishments. She accomplished more in her lifetime that some people would even accomplish in two lifetimes. She graduated Jackson High School with honors. She got a college degree from Freed-Hardeman University, and she wrote children's books. She was our local celebrity and was visited by several worldwide celebrities. She never seemed to have "poor me" moments. From what I understand, she was a ray of sunshine to everyone who had the privilege of meeting her.

Godspeed, Sister Dianne, we will miss you, but we know you will be waiting for us on the other side of eternity.