Odessia Martha Wells (Greene) was born in Port Gibson, MS on August 23, 1910. She died 99 years and 3 months later on November 18, 2009 in Orange, New Jersey. That she survived for five months, far longer than expected following a serious stroke speaks to her incredible fortitude and indefatigable spirit. Odessia was the second of six children, Rose, Katie, Robert, Thomas Jr, (all deceased) & Samuel born to Thomas Greene and Prencie Howard Greene. According to her brother Sam, Odessia was the ring leader when they were children and could always be counted on to lead them into mischief. That fun loving, rambunctious, seemingly fearless personality would remain with her for the rest of her life. She attended Romala Public School in Port Gibson, later moving to Bogalusa, LA to reside with her paternal aunt, Martha, a schoolteacher. There she finished high school and attended some college. In January of 1935 she married Charles Wells in a union that would last for 65 years ending with his death in 1995. Odessia, Charles and other family members left the South to find better work opportunities in New Jersey in the early 1940's. With sister, Rose and Rose's husband, Bennie, they worked in the Pocono Mountain resorts cooking, cleaning and providing services for guests and families with homes located there. Settling in East Orange and then Orange, where she would reside for the next 40 years, she found employment at the Margon/ConMar Manufacturing Company and worked there until her retirement. At the time she moved to New Jersey she joined Calvary Baptist Church and its Lady Usher Board and Missionary Society. She was a faithful member of Calvary for over 60 years. Although she had no children of her own, she held a special place in the hearts of her nieces and nephews that continues into the present generation. Odessia could always be counted on to regale them with stories about her mischief as a child and young adult and to give straightforward advice about life and people, laced with her usual good humor. She could be counted on to tell the truth, the good as well as the bad, and was honest about her own failings. Odessia was unusually quick witted and did not suffer fools gladly. If you behaved stupidly she would tell you in no uncertain terms, however if you performed well, she would also take note of that. Grand nephew Robert observed that there was a special purity in what she said to you that was not always warm and fuzzy, but always came from a place in her that was loving and honest and left you feeling a profound connection to her. That and her sense of fairness were among her most endearing qualities. Her quick wit and capacity for verbal jousting could provide both laughter and consternation to those around her and even in her later years she could be a tenacious foe in a disagreement. Standing her ground when she felt it was important, she was a strong woman who in many ways was ahead of her time and who kept up with the changes of almost a century of time. While she could be as tough as nails, her tough exterior concealed a sentimental side. She loved her family greatly, celebrating in their triumphs and worrying when they faced challenges. In recent years shecould be seen shuffling about her home in a pair of old sneakers that belonged to her late husband "Charlie" and she would rarely hesitate to acknowledge how much she missed him. Odessia lived a long and full life and was fortunate to function with a level of autonomy that was unusual for someone of her advanced years. She was also unusually sharp mentally even at times when she was not well. Odessia gave new meaning to the old notion: "every shut eye, ain't asleep". As her health gradually failed she was cared for daily by her devoted brother Sam and nephew Lawrence. Even in recent months when she was forced to reside in a nursing home, they never failed to visit daily and remind her that she was loved and not forgotten. Despite her robust constitution and the devotion of her caretakers, her last illness proved too much for her to overcome. She leaves to mourn her passing her devoted brother Samuel and sister in law Thelma; nephews & nieces Samuel Jr(Carla) & Lawrence Greene, Bennie Robinson (Julia), William Cooper; Beverly Greene & Sandra Pasley; Grand nieces and nephews Lisa Robinson, Robert & Jennifer Pasley, and Gabrielle Greene; Great Grand Nephew Quentin Pasley; cousins Joyce & James Crump, Hazel Brown and a host of other relatives and friends. Odessia lived a full and rich life. She believed in working hard, praying hard, playing hard and was filled with spunk. Although we were blessed to have 99 years of her presence, it does not diminish our sense of loss. We will still miss her deeply, for Odessia was truly one of a kind; they just don't make them like her anymore.