Betty Jane O'Dell

Betty Jane Payne O'Dell, 81, of Charleston, WV formerly of Dothan, WV passed away on Saturday, June 09, 2007 at the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, IL after a long illness. Following cancer surgery in 2005 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Mrs. O'Dell resided with her son, David, in Addison, IL. Born June 13, 1925 at Dothan, WV she was the daughter of the late Charles R. and Della B. Toney Payne. A graduate of Oak Hill High School, she worked at Berman's Jewelers in Beckley, Elk Elementary School in Charleston, the Kanawha County Board of Education and retired as a payroll clerk for the WV Department of Education. She also held several additional part-time positions in the Charleston area to provide for David's undergraduate and graduate education. Known by her family and friends as BJ, she was a member of the Bible Center Church in Charleston where she sang in the Sanctuary Choir and served as a leader in the AWANA program for children. Survivors include her only son, David C. O'Dell of Addison, IL and three brothers, Billy Payne of Murfreesboro, TN, Jake Payne of Dothan, WV and Woody Payne of Rt 1 Scarbro, WV. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Special friends of the family include Jim McQuerrey, BJ's choir director and "second son," along with many members of the choir and congregation at Bible Center. Services will be on Friday, June 15, 2007 at 2:00 P.M. at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill with Pastor Jesse Waggoner of the Bible Center Church officiating. Burial will be at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill WV. Visitation will be held at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill on Thursday, June 14, 2007, from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Bible Center Church, 1111 Oakhurst Drive, Charleston, WV 25314.