R. L. Odum (Robert Lee Odum)

I just wanted to tell you about the children in that photo. They are named Donald James, Mary Pearl, Irene, and Ruby Eileen. Ruby was my Grannie. Those were the children of Lola Elizabeth Moore who was married to Robert Lee Odum. They had a home that Robert built for Lola and the kids shortly before Ruby was born, so around 1922, in the town of Werner. Before that they lived in a shack by the creek, near the bridge. I believe the shack was stone. I could be mistaken. Robert the dad was a farmer and the Postmaster General, and had served in the Military. He was known to be a very stern man. Lola was a quiet but independent woman. Ruby was third oldest of the children. She would go on to receive five college degrees, join the military (Army) to work as an RN on third floor, and later on to become an English teacher, receiving her master's degree as well. Their brother went on to work for the railroad and later in life he lived in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN where he and his wife taught salsa dancing for forty years. The house still stands to this day, lonely and forgotten. It has a broad front porch and had a blueberry patch behind it, where Ruby picked berries as a little girl in the 1920's. The kids would also take their bantam rooster, "little Lee" out to the creek to swim with them on hot days. I hope you enjoyed learning more about a find family and a wonderful town!:) Sincerely,(the granddaughter of Ruby Eileen Odum), -Molly McConnell