Odell Johnson

Odell Johnson, age 60, of Corona, California passed away on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. Odell was born December 24, 1960 in St. Louis, Missouri. Odell was the second son to the union of Bernice Augusta Williams Johnson and Odell Johnson Sr, in St. Louis, MO. His father, Odell Sr. and brother Tyree Hunt both proceeded him in death. His loving mother just celebrated her 90th year with Odell, his wife Sarah and family in attendance.

Odell graduated from University City High School in St Louis, MO in 1979. Upon graduation, he attended The University of Missouri in St Louis and after a year decided to relocate to Long Beach California to work in his cousin, Lou Cannon’s, publications and print shop. His role was as a manager overseeing the business. In 1984 -1987, Odell went back to school attending California State Long Beach University.

In 1987 Odell’s only son, Kyle Jabri Johnson was born. Odell loved to play family games with his son, spending time with him and taking him on family camping trips. He was very proud of Kyle’s ability to turn his passion for vegan cooking into a business as a Master Vegan Chef in his current business called Market LOVr. He also took special joy in spending time with his grandchildren, Kylee and Chandler and his siblings, whom he also called his grands.

On a beautiful Thanksgiving Day in 1994, Odell met Sarah Denise Daniels as a blind date through their friend Angel Monteiro. They bonded instantly. After six months, they moved in together and started a life full of love, laughter, and adventure. On September19,1998 the loving couple had the privilege of having their marriage blessed and officiated by Reverend Viola Lillian Daniels Fudge, Sarah’s mother. Odell and Sarah set their life path together and shared a beautiful love story that included traveling, hosting amazing parties, and creating homes full of family, friends, and great times. Over 26 years, they traveled the world together visiting places many only dream about including: Cuba, Thailand, Costa Rica, Greece, Italy, Spain, China, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Honduras, Belize, St Thomas, Haiti, Cancun, St Croix, Aruba, St Lucia. St Kitts, Canada, Cozumel, Bahamas, and Cabo.

Odell was an enthusiastic reader devouring an eclectic array of interests including, Egyptology, mysticism, organic gardening, wholistic health practices, African and Black history, amongst others. He was also a published author with a particular passion for children’s writing. In 2004, he began attending UCLA Extension courses and The Back Porch Fiction Writers Workshop in Leimert Park to enhance his writing skills. He received a diploma from The Institute of Children’s Literature in Writing for Children and Teenagers in 2012 and furthered his studies UCLA Extension’s The Middle Grade Novel Course in 2017. Since then, Odell completed 20 chapters of his children’s novel, Napier Anne (to be published posthumously). Odell’s stories have been published in several magazines including a long relationship with Skipping Stones Magazine, which is a multicultural magazine for youth. Articles for Skipping Stones includes, Of Witches, Wiccans and Halloween (Oct/Nov 2011), Changing Children’s Lives Through Music (Jul/Sept 2014), and The Joy of Kwanzaa (Jan/Mar 2021).

For 10 years, Odell helped people buy homes and fix their credit as a licensed realtor and a loan officer for Washington Mutual. In 1996, he decided to make a difference in people’s well-being, and completed his massage therapy license and founded, The Body Temple Mobile Massage. He changed people’s lives by reconnecting them to their health and wellness for over 20 years.

Odell loved gardening, receiving his UC Certified Victory Gardener Certificate in April 2014. His family owned a farm in St Louis for many years, were he learned to build his own garden. He and his sweet Labrador, Sheeba - and later mischievous Mocha - spent hours in his garden building elaborate garden boxes, amending the soil, and applying holistic approaches to gardening to create beautiful, succulent organic fruits and vegetables. He planted his garden from seedlings and babied his crop until full maturity. He would grow beautiful vegetables that Sarah would turn into amazing meals. They enjoyed eating off his bountiful harvest and if you were a lucky guest, you might be able to as well.

Odell was a deeply spiritual person with a deep passion for the universality of all humankind. In his early life, he attended Wagner Avenue Church of Christ in St Louis. He and Sarah later joined and enjoyed the ministry of Michael Beckwith at The Agape international Spiritual Center and often attended The Kabbalah Center, both in Los Angeles.

Odell loved his family, his wife Sarah - who he described as his eternal soul mate, and his friends. He loved hiking, working out, traveling, stamp collecting, nature, writing, camping, gardening, reading, meditation, walks on the beach, Bond movies, playing bid whist and listening to jazz. Odell lived a life full of quiet passions. He was known as a thoughtful, loving and kind spirit.

Odell fought his last fight September on 13th, 2021. He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife, Sarah Daniels-Johnson of Corona CA, his mother, Bernice Johnson of St Louis, MO, only son, Kyle Johnson, grandchildren Kylee and Chandler Johnson, Godchildren, Keira Frazier and Liam Glenn and honorary grands, Mikel, Asaiah, Zoie and Harold Jr., brothers-in-law Joseph Daniels (Cheron), Bruce Foster, Michael Daniels (Gloria) and sisters-in-law, Lynn Ziegler (Charlton), Cherie Foster a host of dear nieces and nephews, and a large and loving family in St. Louis and California with a special shoutout to his many cousins, family, and friends.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tridentsociety.com/location/rancho-mirage-cremation for the Johnson family.