Jean Ellis Odom

Mrs. Jean Ellis Odom, age 91, of Gallatin, TN passed away peacefully on July 09, 2025, surrounded by family.

A celebration of life will be held at Hillwood Presbyterian Church on August 23rd, 2025, with visitation at 12:30pm, and service beginning at 2:00pm.

Jean was born August 31st, 1933, in Kansas City, MO to the late Paul Carlton Ellis and Marian Titus Ellis. In 1941, her father’s work on short wave radios sent her family to Long Beach, CA before the war began. While traveling to California on Route 66, Jean marveled that “she thought she’d gone to Heaven” as they came to the edge of the Staked Plains Overlook in Eastern New Mexico where she got her first look at the expansive west. It was her wish to return to that very spot, where she will now rest overlooking the land she loved so dearly.

Born during the height of the great depression, Jean witnessed nearly a century of life and lived it fully. She has been described as kind, brilliant, selfless, adventurous, and quick-witted. As a young girl, she enjoyed spending her free time at Venice Beach, riding “weight” for motorcycle hill climbs, and playing beach volleyball. She was incredibly intelligent from a young age. She recounted being scolded often for not participating in school due to hiding novels inside her textbook while in class. Still however, she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1950 two years early at the age of 16 and enrolled at UC Berkeley for college. Later, Jean worked at Douglas Aircraft where she oversaw spare parts for the DC-3. There, her lifelong commitment of defending and advocating for others was evident as she served as the Union Shop Steward.

It was also during this time; Jean’s adventurous spirit began to shine. At the age of 20, she explored Yosemite, carrying a 60lb pack as she hiked from one end of the park to the other, and for her 21st birthday, she climbed Mt. Whitney. She loved being in nature and often described our family as “mountain people.”

In 1956, Jean married Frank Bethel Titus Jr., and they made their home in Albuquerque, NM where her children were born. There, she was active in the Unitarian Church, worked as an accountant for Albuquerque Lumber, and continued advocating and caring for those around her. While raising four children, she ironed clothes for local graduate school students and was active in the civil rights movement. In March of 1965, Jean traveled through the night, from Albuquerque, NM to Selma, AL to join the march for equal voting rights. She never shied away from difficult things and cared deeply about people.

In 1970, Jean began a new chapter by moving to Gallatin, TN with her husband, Allen Vernon Robnett. Here, she quickly became a loved member of the community. Jean was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Gallatin where she sang in the choir. She served ten years on the Sumner County Library and Regional Library boards, worked as the accountant for Owens Tobacco, and was a founding member of the Sumner County Museum.

From 1973 to 1981, Jean was the secretary for the Humanities Department at Vol State Community College. In 1978 she passed the Certified Professional Secretary Exam on her first attempt, an accomplishment she was extremely proud of. During this time, she also commuted to UT-Nashville, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in business.

Jean’s life was marked by her deep love for family, and in her later years, she found a treasured companion in her husband, Jack Odom Sr., and together they shared many joyful years residing in Nashville, TN and Foley, AL.

Jean was a skilled quilt maker, known for her innovative interpretation of traditional patterns. She began quilting at a young age, making her first quilt blocks in 1944 while her father was overseas in WWII. She was a five-time Best in Show winner at the at the Tennessee State Fair and won numerous other awards over the years for her work. Most notably, her quilt “Storm at Sea,” which was quilted as she battled Acral Lentiginous Melanoma in 1993 won many awards and was featured in several articles. Jean was quoted giving credit to this quilt for saving her life and sanity while she underwent treatments for her cancer.

She was an expert on textile bags, also known as feed sacks, and printed fabric dolls, and had a deep knowledge of quilt and textile history, including related topics of migration routes, trade patterns, economic and cultural history. Jean generously shared that knowledge through numerous speaking engagements across the country.

Jean was a longtime valued and active member of the American Quilt Study Group, the National Organization of Quilt Historians, the Midwest Fabric Study Group, Lakeshore Quilters, Kentucky Quilt Study Group, and Tennessee Valley Quilting Association. Additionally, she was a founding member of the Tennessee Quilt Study Group and volunteered with the Tennessee State Museum to document and prepare quilts for exhibit.

Jean was a cherished member of Hillwood Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN, where she was a member of the church board and choir. Her choir director lovingly shared that he admired how she always strived to improve as a singer even at advanced age.

Jean was a lifelong seeker of knowledge and never lost her curiosity. She continued to read and learn until her passing and was an expert on the American South, United States History, African History, Mercantile, and Musical History. She particularly loved Opera and held a seat at the Nashville symphony since its inception. She enjoyed traveling later in life all over the United States, Ireland, and England.

Jean was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and friend to many across the world. Even at 91, she had an internal joy and sparkle in her eye that likened to a young child just experiencing the world for the first time. She was deeply kind with a giving heart. Always looking for opportunities to take care of someone who might need more than she did. She saw people in a way most of us don’t. She was quick witted, creative, and you didn’t dare challenge her to a game of scrabble - unless you were prepared to lose. She was a storyteller even up until her last moments. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

Jean is survived by her children, Greg (Barbara) Titus, Albuquerque, NM; Rebecca “Becky” (Mark) Titus-Taylor, Sierra de los Pinos, NM; Kathleen “Kat” Carter, Gallatin, TN; James (Pam) Robnett, Socorro, NM; stepchildren, Connie Robnett, Socorro, NM; Allison (Dan) Fletcher, Columbus, GA; Brad (Tracey) Robnett, Kingwood, TX; Susan York, Tuscaloosa, AL; Jack (Nanci) Odom Jr., St. Petersburg, FL; grandchildren, Jeff Carter, Tulsa, OK; Kelsi Carter, Gallatin, TN; Austin (Claire) Carter, Misawa, Japan; Duncan (Georgia) Fletcher, Columbus, GA; Levi Fletcher, Atlanta, GA; Erin Robnett, Kingwood, TX; Jenny (Bronwyn) Robnett, Kingwood, TX; Dan (Suri) Robnett, Kingwood, TX; Stacy Becenti, Nascitti, NM; Nathan Brown, Socorro, NM; Miranda (Dawnya Chavez) Brown, Socorro, NM; Michael Odom, Lindale, TX; Jonathan (Ashley) Odom, Krum, TX; Jack (Amy) Duncan, Tuscaloosa, AL; Christina Lollar, Anniston, AL; greatgrandchildren, EllaJay Fletcher, Columbus, GA; Norah Carter, Misawa, Japan; J.J. Drake, Socorro, NM; Patrick Drake, Socorro, NM; great-great granddaughter, Alice Drake, Socorro, NM; nieces, Ellen (Pat) Harrington, Chandler, AZ; Paula Moore, Mesa, AZ; Betsy (Ralph) Haber, Forney, TX; Jenny (Joe) Mangieri, Portland, OR; great-nieces and nephews, Kyle (Lynn) Harrington, Chandler, AZ; Amanda (Daniel) Arku, Gilbert, AZ; Sarah Moore, El Paso, TX; John Moore, Mesa, AZ; Colleen (David) Fazio, Dallas, TX; great friend, Dale Drake, and numerous other extended family and friends across the world.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack Odom Sr.; sister, Ellie Turner; brother, Bill Ellis; daughter, Pauline Peshlakai; son-in-law, Mike Carter.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Jean Odom to: Hillwood Presbyterian Church, 6220 Hickory Valley Road, Nashville, TN 37205; The American Quilt Study Group, 1610 L Street, Lincoln, NE, 68508; The Gallatin Public Library, 123 E Main St., Gallatin, TN 37066.

Arrangements Entrusted to: Sumner Funeral & Cremation Lakeside, 104 Sanders Ferry Road, Hendersonville, (615)822-4442 www.sumnerfuneral.com