James Mark Odell, served the Lord

The Rev. J. Mark Odell, 78, of Milton, passed away peacefully Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, with his family by his side. He was born May 30, 1944, in Baltimore, Md., son of the late James and Christina (Gretsky) Odell.

Rev. Odell graduated from City College of Baltimore, earned his bachelor’s degree from Towson State University, Towson, Md., and earned his master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. Mark wed Laura A. Razwell Nov. 15, 1969, and they would spend the next 52 years creating a wonderful life and family together. As a young man, Mark felt called to the ministry, and he attended Leningrad Theological Academy earning his theological master’s degree. During his years in the ministry, he served at Saint Innocent Orthodox Church in Detroit, Mich., and Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Baltimore. Above all else, his devotion to his family took precedence, and the time spent with them was what he held most dear. Rev. Odell was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, pastor and friend, and he will be dearly missed by those who were fortunate enough to have known him.

Rev. Odell is survived by his beloved wife, Laura A. Odell of Milton; his daughter, Daria Rowe (Keith) of Lewes; his granddaughters, Rebecca Rowe of Charlotte, N.C., Alexandra and Kaitlyn Rowe of Lewes; his brother, John O’Dell (Joan) of Ocean City, Md.; his sister, Diane Cooke (Doreen) of Lewes; and his nephew, Mark O’Dell (Danielle) of Severna Park, Md.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 8, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Rev. Odell’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, stjude.org.

Visit Rev. Odell’s Life Memorial webpage and sign his virtual guestbook at parsellfuneralhomes.com.