1931
Reverend
2021
Reverend Donald Oden Sr.
May 26, 1931 — June 1, 2021
Rev. Donald Oden SR was born in May 26, 1931 in Talladega Springs, Alabama, to the late Willie Moses and Iolue Oden. He was the eighth of eleven children. The family moved to Birmingham after their father's death in 1942.
Donald was honorably discharged from the Army, where he served from 1951-1954 in a top secret unit. Donald was employed by Ford Motor Company in 1957, and worked there until his retirement in 1998.
Donald graduated from McKin Technical Institute in Akron, Ohio. He studied Liberation Theology with Dr. James Cone. He served on the Board of Directors for "Other Side Magazine". Along with his brothers, he coordinated community food co-ops in Akron, Ohio, with 9 distribution centers in Summit county. For over 50 years, Donald was the Pastor of Christ Community Church. He was the Executive Director for Community Grove Park, worked in Jail Ministry at Akron Jails, worked with Chaplains, and visited penal institutions throughout Ohio. Donald was a member of the NAACP.
He married Cora Naomi Shepard in 1955, a union that lasted 18 years and produced six children.
He married Alberta Lightning (whom he fondly called 'Bert") in1986 and remained married until Bert's death in February 2019.
After Bert's death, Donald moved to Detroit to live with his children. His faith in the Lord helped him with his battle with Alzheimer. Shortly after celebrating his 90th birthday with his family on May 26, 2021, he peacefully departed this life at home on June 1, 2021, with his daughters by his side.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving and devoted wife Alberta Oden; son Donald Oden Jr.; grandson Charles Thomas Jr.; siblings/in-laws, Leola (London) Stone, Eula (Cilvester) Miles, Kathleen (Cornelius) Powe, and Mary Finney, Willie (Shirley) Oden, Herman (Geraldine) Oden, Arnold Oden, John Oden, and Davis Oden.
Donald leaves to cherish his memories his loving children Denise Spencer, Dawn (Jerome) Anderson, Duane, Deborah, Daniel, and Dareck Oden; step-children Robert, Michael, Darryl, Deidre (Jeff), and Lisa Lightning; brother Gary (Tina) Oden, and sister-in-law Ethel Oden; grandchildren, Kynyetta and Christopher Oden, Ramon Perry, and Ronald (Londie) Spencer II.; 13 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Donald was honorably discharged from the Army, where he served from 1951-1954 in a top secret unit. Donald was employed by Ford Motor Company in 1957, and worked there until his retirement in 1998.
Donald graduated from McKin Technical Institute in Akron, Ohio. He studied Liberation Theology with Dr. James Cone. He served on the Board of Directors for "Other Side Magazine". Along with his brothers, he coordinated community food co-ops in Akron, Ohio, with 9 distribution centers in Summit county. For over 50 years, Donald was the Pastor of Christ Community Church. He was the Executive Director for Community Grove Park, worked in Jail Ministry at Akron Jails, worked with Chaplains, and visited penal institutions throughout Ohio. Donald was a member of the NAACP.
He married Cora Naomi Shepard in 1955, a union that lasted 18 years and produced six children.
He married Alberta Lightning (whom he fondly called 'Bert") in1986 and remained married until Bert's death in February 2019.
After Bert's death, Donald moved to Detroit to live with his children. His faith in the Lord helped him with his battle with Alzheimer. Shortly after celebrating his 90th birthday with his family on May 26, 2021, he peacefully departed this life at home on June 1, 2021, with his daughters by his side.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving and devoted wife Alberta Oden; son Donald Oden Jr.; grandson Charles Thomas Jr.; siblings/in-laws, Leola (London) Stone, Eula (Cilvester) Miles, Kathleen (Cornelius) Powe, and Mary Finney, Willie (Shirley) Oden, Herman (Geraldine) Oden, Arnold Oden, John Oden, and Davis Oden.
Donald leaves to cherish his memories his loving children Denise Spencer, Dawn (Jerome) Anderson, Duane, Deborah, Daniel, and Dareck Oden; step-children Robert, Michael, Darryl, Deidre (Jeff), and Lisa Lightning; brother Gary (Tina) Oden, and sister-in-law Ethel Oden; grandchildren, Kynyetta and Christopher Oden, Ramon Perry, and Ronald (Londie) Spencer II.; 13 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Reverend Donald Oden Sr., please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
James H. Cole Home for Funerals - Blvd. Chapel
Guestbook
Visits: 19
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors