Mrs. Gwendolyn O'Dell

Nancy Gwendolyn O’Dell, 97, of Canton, Georgia, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2025. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Gwen will always be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and beaming smile. From a song dear to her son, “the love you make is equal to the love you take.” Gwen was born on August 13, 1927, in the coal-mining town of Burnwell, West Virginia on the banks of Paint Creek. The youngest daughter of Lonnie and Ada Bradley, she was surrounded by a loving family of three sisters and five brothers. Sisters include Lessie, Virginia, Grace, all deceased. Her five brothers were Lester, Lonnie, Duke, Delano, and William, all also deceased. All the Bradleys are now having a giant reunion, hosted by the Lord. After the death of her first husband, Louis Summers, in 1983, Gwen married Frank O’Dell, as a result of a chance meeting at a high school reunion. They resided in Ashland, Kentucky, for over 25 years before moving to an assisted care community in Canton, Georgia to be near her daughter and family. Frank passed away in 2021. Gwen is survived by her two children, Randy of Columbia, South Carolina and Kim Smith of Canton, Georgia as well as stepson, Steven O’Dell, along with six grandchildren, Matt Summers of Roswell, Georgia, Heather Smith Richardson of Atlanta, Georgia, Amanda Summers of Columbia, South Carolina, Haley Smith Mascaritolo of Holly Springs, Georgia, Stephanie O’Dell Daugherity and Jeffrey O’Dell. Six great-grandchildren were blessed by her: Tucker Richardson, Harper Richardson, Carter Mascaritolo, Hannah Grace Mascaritolo, Hayden Summers and Charlotte O’Dell. She also cherished her son-in-law, Richard Smith, who cared for her as a son. Her daughter-in-law, Lou Summers, embraced her as her own mother as well. Prior to her departure from Ashland, Gwen was an active member of Christ United Methodist Church, for over 60 years. There she taught Sunday School, member of the Women’s Circle, and once coordinator of Vacation Bible School. She loved to sing in the choir for Easter and Christmas cantatas. She was also an ardent supporter of the Hillcrest-Bruce neighborhood mission. Above all, she was the family matriarch who loved and prayed for each one of us over the years! Visitation for the immediate family and friends will be held 6-8:00 pm at the Northside Chapel in Roswell, Georgia on Saturday, February 8. A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 15 at the Montgomery Memorial Park, 9619 E. Dupont Avenue, London, West Virginia. The family has asked, in lieu of flowers, to contribute to either Christ Methodist Church, 2335 Pollard Road, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 and/or Hillcrest-Bruce Mission, 1819 Eloise Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101.

Mrs. Gwendolyn O'Dell

August 13, 1927 - February 6, 2025