Odessa Naomi Belcher was born July 19, 1931 in Plymouth, NC to the late William Joseph Belcher and Ruth McNair Belcher. She passed away peacefully in her home on February 23, 2015.

Affectionately known as "Sister", "Duck", "Dessa" and sometimes "The Boss", she took pride in being the strong and supportive matriarch of the family. She also loved her Lily of the Valley church family and enjoyed her role as a church "MOTHER".

Odessa found humor in many situations and was quick to administer a heavy dose of common sense when needed. Vegetable and flower gardening and cooking for special occasions were among her favorite pastimes. She was a lifetime member of the NAACP and a leader in her Brooklyn, New York community as a founding member of the East 95th Street Block Association.

Odessa retired from her position of railroad clerk with the New York City Transit Authority in the mid-nineties and moved back to Plymouth. She particularly enjoyed her involvement with the Willing Workers Club.

Memories of Odessa will be cherished by her daughter- Angela (Bernard) Epps; granddaughter- Vanessa; two sisters- Eunice Grey Belcher and Joyce Belcher Matthews and Joyce's life partner, Arthur Colen; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Odessa was preceded in death by her brothers Daniel Joseph Belcher, Sr., Nathaniel Lee Belcher, and Robert Louis Belcher; sisters Evelyn Belcher Neptune, Dorothy Belcher Harmon, and Para Belcher Pender.

Funeral services were 1:00PM Saturday February 28, 2015 at Lily of the Valley Baptist Church with Pastor Jasper Arnold, officiating. Burial followed in McNair Family Cemetery.