Mr. James Earl "Buddy" Oden

Funeral services will be held at 3 PM, Saturday, July 7, 2018, at Village Chapel for James Earl “Buddy” Oden, 85, Rainbow City, who went to be home with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, July 3, 2018. Reverends Ernest Campbell and Ray Oden will officiate. Burial will follow at Rainbow Memorial Gardens. Village Chapel Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements. James, most commonly known as “Buddy”, worked in sales at Frito Lay for 25 years, then sold insurance for Independent Life Insurance Company, and lastly worked for Old South Meat Brokerage. He was a member at Bethel Baptist Church, and he served as the choir director at many different churches over the years. He sang weekly at nursing homes, including Regency Pointe every Monday, as part of his music ministry. He also served the Lord as founding member and lead singer in the gospel quartet, The Evangelaires, for over 40 years. He loved his family and the Lord with all of his heart, and he will be remembered as a loving father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Wanda Oden Barb; parents, Rev. Andrew and Florence Oden; brothers, A.J. and Kenneth Oden; and sister, Inez Bonnie. Buddy is survived by his wife, Peggy Oden; son, Wendell (Kim) Oden; daughter, Jamie (Blaine) Hefner; step-daughters, Pam (Jacky) Foster, Teresa Angle, and Karen (Chris) Smith; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters, Imogene Skillman, Oneonta, Betty (Jack) Morrison, Shippensburg, PA, Sue Smith, Austill, GA, and Judy Mabry, Fultondale; brothers, Ray (Sarah) Oden, Gallant, Dwayne (Edith) Oden, Oneonta, and Andrew (Lynda) Oden, Snead; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. His grandsons and sons-in-law will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be all past and present members of The Evangelaires. Special thanks to the staff and doctors at Gadsden Regional, especially 3rd floor MICU; and also thanks to everyone for the prayers, phone calls, love and support given to the family during this difficult time. The family will receive friends from 1 PM until the time of the service Saturday.

Mr. James Earl "Buddy" Oden

November 30, 1932 - July 3, 2018