Shelby Odom

Shelby Toland Odom, 82, of Jackson, passed away Monday, April 18, 2022, at Jackson Health Care Facility. She was born in Jackson on Sunday, May 7, 1939, to Bascom Fitzland Toland and Tommie Atchison Toland, both of whom preceded her in death. A dedicated teacher, she had 41 years of experience, 30 of those at Gilmore Elementary School in Jackson and the rest at Boykin Elementary in McIntosh and Jackson Academy. She had served as an officer in the Alabama Association of University Women, Delta Kappa Gamma, Clarke County Educators, Friends of the Library and Jackson Presbyterian Women. She was a member of the Pine City Community Concert Association, Three Arts, Hospital Auxiliary and the QA Committee for the Department of Human Resources.
She is survived by numerous cousins, all of her "Kids," or former students and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022, at The First Presbyterian Church in Jackson with the Rev. Taylor Morgan officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service at Pinecrest Cemetery in Jackson with Lathan Funeral Home directing.
Pallbearers will be John Brown, John Cave, Charles Davis, Randall Overstreet, Larry Powell, Jr. and Larry Toland.
Honorary pallbearers will be employees of The Meadows in Jackson and co-workers at Gilmore Elementary School.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Plaza, Memphis, TN 38105; United Methodist Children's Home, 3140 Zelda Court, Suite 100, Montgomery, AL 36101 or a book to the Gilmore Elementary School Library.
Condolences may be offered at www.lathanfuneralhome.com.