Odessa Mae Johnson Nelson

A Glimpse Into Her LifeLet not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14: 1-4 The sweet and beautiful life of Odessa Mae Johnson Nelson came to a close on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 with her family by her side. By every account she lived a full and modest life with a constant hope in Christ. Odessa was born on July 27, 1930 in Dalark, Arkansas to the union of Horace Johnson, Sr., and Zeola Jackson Johnson. Odessa married Roosevelt Ankton and to this union three children were born, Henry, Vernon, and Faye. She later married Ferrell D. Nelson and to this union Arron was born. She was a lifelong member of Mt. Olive AME Church where she served as the local president of the Beulah Neal Woman’s Missionary Society, a trustee, mission president, and stewardess, on the usher board, a member of the choir and with the kitchen committee. Odessa loved gospel music; she enjoyed sewing and making quilts for her grandchildren. Odessa was a great cook and was well known for her trademark sweet potatoe pie. She attended the Sparkman Training School and worked as a presser with Neal’s Cleaner’s for years. She made sure every garment that she pressed; was pressed to perfection. Odessa possessed a gentle and loving spirit. She always spoke kind words and would give good advice.Odessa leaves to cherish her memory: three children, Vernon (Finas) Ankton of Benicia, CA, Wanda Faye Browning of Manchester, AR and Arron Nelson of Dalark, AR; a daughter-in-law, Minnie Ankton of Dalark, AR; a special son-in-law, Ronnie Browning, Sr.; a special daughter-in-law, Karen Ford; her step-children, Brenda Nelson and Dorothy Nelson both of Ruston, LA, Ferrell D. (Linda) Nelson, Jr. of Monroe, LA and Margaret (Randy) McCall of Mobile, AL; eight grandchildren, Ken Ankton, Sandra Ankton, Vernon Ankton, Jr., LaTasha Ankton-Evans, Vincent Ankton, LaToya Browning, Falesha Ankton-Johnson and Ronnie Browning, Jr., four great-grandchildren, Michael Evans, III., Devon Ankton, Anyah Evans and Taylor Aultman; two brothers, George (Dorothy) Delamar of Arkadelphia and Oliver (Peggy) Delamar of Oakland, CA; a sister-in-law, Geneva Delamar of Arkadelphia. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, a special friend Gracie Neal; numerous other friends and the Mt. Olive AME Church family. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Henry Ankton; five brothers, Algie Johnson, Horace Johnson, Jr., Clarence Delamar, Leon Delamar and Claudie Delamar; four sisters, Elsie B. Johnson, Frankie Plummer, Maude Jones and Myrtle Jones.