Myrtle Odom Fouche, is one of the shut-ins in the Branford community. She is one of several on First Baptist Church shut-in prayer list, where she is a member. Arthritis has eaten her knee joints to the point that she is unable to walk.

She is 91 years old and was born in l915 to Melos and Rosa Bush in Dixie County.

She was married to Robert “Doc” Odom, a pharmacist for 69 years. They owned and operated Variety Drugs, a pharmacy and variety store. Myrtle was the clerk and bought merchandise for the store. She said, “We carried general merchandise, clothes, shoes, anything you wanted.” Their employees were the late Nellie Wise, Flora Bell and O.D. Brown. The Odoms sold the Variety Drugs store building to Bob Fletcher, who then owned Branford Hardware, and Variety Drugs enlarged the hardware store.

Robert Odom passed away years ago, and Myrtle married Julian Fouche. They were married for four years, and he died of cancer. Myrtle said, “he was good to me, our marriage was sweet, but too short.” He had two sons and a daughter.

Myrtle used to teach Sunday School to a group of boys and girls, and she sang in her church choir for many years. She joined First Baptist Church 80 years ago when she was 11 years old. She remembers William Ivey, who was pastor from l976 until l984.

Every Wednesday, Norma Nealon brings her evening meal, and on other special occasions.

Myrtle doesn’t get around much anymore. But she did manage to go to Lake City to meet her sister Molly Ammons, 8l, who lives in Jacksonville. They met for seafood dinner. Myrtle loves seafood. Her late brother and sister were Kennon Bush and Irene Ganus.

Her only son James Wallace Odom died about 17 years ago. Her grandchildren are Connie Odom and Gregory Odom.

Her care giver is Pamela Hughes, who spends seven days, 24 hours per day with her.

“Pamela is very good to me,” said Myrtle.

Myrtle loves to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy on television. Her hearing is bad, and she wears aids in both ears, but still has difficulty hearing. “My hearing bothers me badly,” she said. “I’m ready to go whenever God calls me.”

Revia Munch stops by once in awhile, and so does Leota Fletcher, and Joyce Rogers stops by quite frequently, and recently Gary and Michelle Cannon stopped by and gave her a shawl. Rodney Scyphers comes out to check on her health wise. He makes house calls for Myrtle.

She doesn’t have any hobbies, but reads the paper, rides her motorized chair throughout the house, and eats ice cream. She loves to have visitors stop by, so how about doing that for her. We will all be older one day, and you will be blessed for visiting her.