Sheriff Thomas Jefferson "Tom" O'Dell^{[1, 2, 3, 4]}

1923 - 2017  (94 years)

• Name	Thomas Jefferson "Tom" O'Dell
  Prefix	Sheriff
  Born	1923	Tennessee
  Gender	Male
  Also Known As	Sheriff Tom
  Census	1940	District 4, Cocke County, Tennessee   [5]
  Died	15 Feb 2017  [6, 7]
  Buried	Union Cemetery, Newport, Cocke County, Tennessee   [8]
  Person ID	I96671	Smoky Mountain Ancestral Quest
  Last Modified	20 Sep 2017

  
  

  Father	James Berry O'Dell,   b. 12 Sep 1882, Tennessee ,   d. 16 Jul 1949  (Age 66 years)
  Mother	Rillie McDevitt,   b. 27 Oct 1888, Madison County, Northa Carolina ,   d. 6 Mar 1958, Cocke County, Tennessee  (Age 69 years)
  Married	14 Dec 1904	Cocke County, Tennessee
  Family ID	F33644	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Ruth Eleanor Perrin,   b. 10 Feb 1928, Tennessee ,   d. 29 May 2011, Newport, Cocke County, Tennessee  (Age 83 years)
  Married	Abt 1950
  Children	1. Susie O'Dell + 2. Joy O'Dell
  Family ID	F79687	Group Sheet

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 1923 - Tennessee Buried - - Union Cemetery, Newport, Cocke County, Tennessee  = Link to Google Maps   = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos		(c)2006 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL From left are Bobby Stinson, D.C. Ramsey, O'Dell, Sheriff Strange, Billy Wayne Moore, and Tunney Moore. Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan attended the celebration and congratulated O'Dell, who worked in government with Mayor McMahan's father, the late Ilif
  		Thomas Jefferson "Sheriff Tom" O'Dell

  
  

• Sources

  [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 186. [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 11 Dec 2005. Just Plain Talk [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 22 Oct 2006. A rare meeting of the current and former Cocke County sheriffs (c)2006 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL From left are Bobby Stinson, D.C. Ramsey, O'Dell, Sheriff Strange, Billy Wayne Moore, and Tunney Moore. Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan attended the celebration and congratulated O'Dell, who worked in government with Mayor McMahan's father, the late Iliff McMahan Sr. By: DAVID POPIEL Source: The Newport Plain Talk 10-22-2006 A rare meeting of the current and former Cocke County sheriffs took place at the county courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 17. The occasion was the birthday celebration for Tom O'Dell, who first took office after Kin Holt in 1964. O'Dell is in his early 80s and in excellent health and active. The only other sheriff since 1964 not present was the late Roy Keifer. Current Sheriff Claude Strange hosted the party with assistance of Lorene Hartsell, sheriff's office clerk. She has served with every sheriff since O'Dell. From left are Bobby Stinson, D.C. Ramsey, O'Dell, Sheriff Strange, Billy Wayne Moore, and Tunney Moore. Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan attended the celebration and congratulated O'Dell, who worked in government with Mayor McMahan's father, the late Iliff McMahan Sr. [S120] A Place Called Home: Our Story, David L. Popiel, Duay O'Neil, et. al., (2006, The Newport Plain Talk / Jones Media Inc.), dpopiel@xtn.net., 73. [S112] Census, 1940. Name Thomas O'Dell Event Type Census Event Date 1940 Event Place Civil District 4, Cocke, Tennessee, United States Gender Male Age 15 Marital Status Single Race (Original) White Race White Relationship to Head of Household (Original) Son Relationship to Head of Household Son Birthplace Tennessee Birth Year (Estimated) 1925 Last Place of Residence Same House HOUSEHOLD ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE James O'Dell Head M 59 Tennessee Rilla O'Dell Wife F 54 Tennessee Mamie O'Dell Daughter F 20 Tennessee Bessie O'Dell Daughter F 18 Tennessee Harding O'Dell Son M 16 Tennessee Thomas O'Dell Son M 15 Tennessee Sameul O'Dell Son M 14 Tennessee Pearl O'Dell Daughter F 11 Tennessee [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 5 Jun 2017. Bessie L. O'Dell Justus obituary [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 15 Feb 2017. (October 17, 1923 - February 15, 2017) Tom O’Dell, of Newport, passed away, Wednesday, February 15, 2017, surrounded by his family and loved ones. Tom was a true republican and began his political career after serving his country in 1946-1947. His first position was Fish and Game Commissioner in 1947 for upper East, Tennessee. He was Road Commissioner, Road Superintendent, Sheriff and Road Superintendent again. He never lost an election and served our wonderful Cocke County for 40 years. He was an avid Tennessee Vol fan having followed the Vol’s since 1939. “Dad, we will miss you terribly”. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, J. B. O’Dell, Sr. and Rillie O’Dell of Newport; brothers and sisters, Mary Murr, Ellie Shropshire, William O’Dell, Bonnie Spradling, J. B. O’Dell. Jr., Mamie Cobb, Harding O’Dell, Sam O’Dell, Pearl Gray and his precious awesome wife of 61 years…Ruth Perrin O’Dell. Tom is survived by his daughter and son –in-law, Joy and Steve Large; daughter and fiancé, Susie O’Dell and Lewis Everhart; daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Eric Ellison, son and daughter-in-law, Jabo and Tammy Francis; grandchildren and their wives, Jeff and Tracy Large; Andy and Amy Austin, and Emily Ellison; great-grandchildren, Landan Large and Alexa Austin; sister, Bessie Justus. Tom is also survived by his best forever friend, Bobby Sawyer; and his true love, Margaret Blazer; also his nieces, nephews, and a huge amount of genuine friends, that will miss him terribly. It was a true honor for our Dad to serve and protect the people of Cocke County for 93 years. The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm -7:00 pm, Thursday, February 16, 2017, with funeral services following at 7:00 pm in Manes Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Scott Gorrell officiating. Please come by and visit with the family and share stories of Tom’s life and celebrate his new beginning in Christ. Burial will be held 2:00 pm Friday, February 17, 2017, in Union Cemetery. Special “Thanks” to Dr. David McConnell, Dr. Russell Huntsinger, Tammy Francis and Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Providence Church 2263 Cosby Hwy, Newport, TN 37821, Alzheimer’s of Tennessee in care of Alexa Austin, 363 East Main Street, Newport, TN, 37821, or Celebration of Life P. O. Box 263, Newport, TN 37821. Family and friends may sign the guest register on line at: www.manesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Manes Funeral Home. [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 176360064).