Deacon Odester "OD" Whitiker

WHITIKER, Deacon Odester "OD" - Age 67, passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at his residence. Family hour 1:30 PM Friday, May 25, 2018 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 2:00 PM Pastor R. Sherman McCathern officiating. Interment Flint Memorial Park, G-9506 N. Dort Hwy., Mt. Morris, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 1:30 PM Friday. Mr. Whitiker will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday. Deacon Odester Whitiker “O.D.” was born November 19, 1950 in Gould, Arkansas, the son of Willie Sr. and Vera Lee Whitiker. He accepted Christ as his savior at a very young age at Bright Starr Missionary Baptist Church in Tarry, AR. At the age of 18 he was drafted in to the United States Army and fought in the Vietnam War and was Honorably Discharged as Sergeant. After returning from the war he eventually made Flint, Michigan the place where he would spend the rest of his life. It was there he met his beautiful wife. He began work for General Motors and retired after 30 + years of excellent service. In 2005 he became a member of Joy Tabernacle Church. Odester regularly attended Sunday School, Bible Study and Sunday Worship Service. In 2006, he was Ordained as a Deacon of Joy Tabernacle Church. O.D. loved to watch his favorite sport, Football and argue with brother, “Bama” about the games. He also loved to fish, watch golf, basketball, cook and make barbecue. His heart was pure and he always kept it 100! Always giving advice about life. His laugh was one of a kind and he had the most beautiful smile. O.D. loved people and was trustworthy. Deacon Odester Whitiker “O.D.” leaves to cherish his memory: devoted wife of 32 years, Thelma Whitiker; daughter, Shermaine Whitiker, both of Flint; 4 sons, Odester Whitiker Jr. & wife, Andrae Whitiker of Pine Bluff, AR, Rev. Catrel (Wanda) Whitiker of Monroe, and Orestes Whitiker of Cleveland, OH; 5 grandchildren, Alexis Whitiker, Doris Whitiker, both of Irving, TX, Ja’Mere Whitiker, Damerion Whitiker and Amira Whitiker, all of Flint; 3 sisters, Lonzetta (Lester) Price, Yurly (Kevin) Pryor and Linda Faye Whitiker; 7 brothers, Willie Whitiker Jr., all of Pine Bluff, AR, Leander (Luann) Whitiker of West Memphis, AR, Julian (Pauline) Whitiker, Johnny Whitiker, Rev. Lee R. Whitiker, Tonnie (Georgia) Whitiker and Clem Whitiker, all of Pine Bluff, AR; a host of nieces including special niece, Rubie (Otis) Hervey of Flint; a host of nephews including special nephew, Julian Cain; 4 sisters-in-law, Vivian Bates of Lima, OH, Sheila Cheatom, Lillian Cheatom and Melinda Cheatom, all of Flint; brother-in-law, Bruce (Teresa) Cheatom of Antioch, TN; a host of other relatives and friends including special friends, Leon (DeNora) Wine, Marilyn and “Karly Jo”, and the Genesee Road Walking Crew. Deacon Whitiker was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Sr. and Vera Lee Whitiker; and sisters, Rose Whitiker and Willie B. Shaw. The family would like to express special thanks to everyone: I ask many questions why, why, why. I had to stop and remember that we are all born to die. Until that faithful day when I will see His face. I pray that God will give me the strength to continue to run this race. With all my love, wife, Thelma Whitiker.

Deacon Odester "OD" Whitiker

November 19, 1950 - May 16, 2018