Obituary of Rena Odessa Meacham

RENA ODESSA HILL MEACHAM “MS. O” A Celebration of Life Service for Rena Odessa Hill Meacham, 97, will be Friday, March 14, 2014, 11:00 AM, at First Baptist Church, Talladega with Dr. Dennis Jones officiating. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 9:30-11:00 AM and burial will follow the service at Pine Hill Memorial Cemetery. Mrs. Meacham was born on March 19, 1916 and she peacefully went to be with her Lord on March 12, 2014 at her residence, one week prior to her 98th birthday. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church having taught children in the nursery for 40 years and spreading the love of Christ everywhere she went. After retirement from Palm Beach, Mrs. Meacham began making an impact at two local ministries. She worked at The Samaritan House for 10 years helping people in need and also began working at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center at age 74, where she served for 22 years until the age of 96. She was well-known for her creative salads and warm greetings for the guests as they entered the dining room. Shocco visitors and fellow employees lovingly knew her as “Ms O”. She demonstrated an extraordinary work ethic and will be remembered as a Christian lady who loved and cherished her family and encouraged all who knew her with her kind, gentle Christ-like spirit. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Alvin Howard Meacham; father, Ernest Hill, mother, Odessa West Hill, sisters, Mae Lyles and Dorothy Hill and brothers, Roy Hill and Webster Hill. She is survived by three children, Darlo (Stan) Hartdegen of Talladega, Jimmy (Myra) Meacham of Montgomery, and Anthony (Frieda) Meacham of Talladega; sister, Verna Lee Burdette of Roanoke, AL, brothers, Lindy Hill of New Site, AL and Fred Hill of Shell Knob, Missouri; 5 grandchildren, Debbie (Les) Walker of Ashland, VA, Rena (Chris) McConville of Marietta, GA, Will (Sally) Meacham of Montgomery, AL, De (Elizabeth) Meacham of Opelika, AL and Emily (Macy) Finck of Opelika, AL; 10 great-grandchildren, April (John)Tompkins of Coosada, AL, Heather (Chris) Clark of Indianapolis, IN, Josh Walker of Boone, NC, Nate Meacham and Virginia Meacham of Montgomery, AL, Seth Meacham and Cole Meacham of Opelika, AL, Alex Finck and Savannah Finck of Opelika, AL, Isaac McConville of Marietta, GA, and many nieces, nephews and special friends. The family wants to thank New Beacon Hospice and her caregivers, Sundra Williams and Ida Mae Tucker for their loving service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center, 1314 Shocco Springs Road, Talladega, AL 35160, First Baptist Church, P O Box 696, Talladega, AL 35161 or the charity of your choice. Pallbearers will be Jerryl Gaither, Leslie Jacobs, Doug Larry, Jake Montgomery, Bradley Rogers, and Buster Taylor. Condolences may be offered online at www.usreyfuneralhome.com. Usrey Funeral Home, Talladega will direct the services.