Obituary of Mary Odell Grogan

Beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Mary Odell Pepper Boze Grogan, went to her heavenly home in the care of Comfort Care Hospice, Thursday morning, January 21, 2021. Odell was born to Pearlie Mae Harden and Leo Davis Pepper on November 4, 1929, in Talladega County, Alabama, the third of five siblings. She was a longtime resident of Jasper, Alabama and her childhood home of Clay County. Odell, also known as Mary, and lovingly known as Mema, is survived by her daughter, Diane Boze King, son-in-law Mitchell “Mickey” King; granddaughter’s, Tara King Slate (Scott), and Kelly King Robicheaux (Grant); and great-grandchildren, Will Henry, Ella and Grayson Slate, and John, Claire and James Robicheaux. She also leaves behind many loved nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and their families. As Mama and Mema, Odell was a doting mother and grandmother. She was a master seamstress, sewing the trendiest, most beautifully crafted clothing and costumes. She arranged for extensive music lessons, made the most perfect fried chicken, biscuits and lemon meringue pie, and her cakes were the best you’ve ever tasted. Mema held the hand of granddaughters afraid of the dark until they fell asleep, indulged novice pastry chefs who insisted on making special desserts all by themselves, offered saucers of shredded coconut and glasses of ginger ale as a snack, and forgave the little helpers who finished her morning coffee. Her spunky, quick wit will be fondly remembered and she will be forever loved and missed. Odell was preceded in death by her loving parents and her siblings, Annie Pearl Pritchard, Leo Mason Pepper, Gladys Blake McFarland, Rufus Davis Pepper; and her husband’s Richard Francis Boze and Henry Nolen Grogan. A private graveside will be held at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Cropwell, AL. On line condolences may be offered at www.usreyfuneralhome.com Usrey Funeral Home of Talladega will direct the service.