Jay Odom

Cecil “Jay” Odom, 80, passed away peacefully in his sleep Sunday, January 31, 2021 at his home in Bluffton, SC.  He was born 11/21/1940 in Laurinburg, NC.

Jay’s early career began as a high school Sophomore in 1956.  He was the host of a Hit rock & roll evening radio show called “The Rocking Horse” on WTSB, in North Carolina.  It was the same year Elvis was branded “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll”.  It aired for three successful years until he graduated from Littlefield High School in Lumberton.

He started a family with his high school sweetheart while he continued in radio broadcasting.  He was in the radio business in Lynchburg, Virginia, and then Little Rock, Arkansas.  He eventually moved his family to Baltimore, Maryland where he became partner and owner of several moving and storage companies, one of which was a Mayflower affiliate.  Over time he became President of the Maryland Movers Association.

Jay discovered Hilton Head Island in 1978 when a friend asked him to host his radio show on WHHR so that he could go on vacation.  He fell in love with the beauty and charm of Hilton Head and decided to make it his home.  He spent the first several years traveling for a PR & Advertising firm making television commercials and radio spots for companies such as AT&T (Reach out and Touch Someone), Ford, GE, and Ralston Purina’s Meow Mix.

Once permanently residing on Hilton Head Island with his love Betty Louise he became the opening Plantation Manager and Sales Manager for Wexford Plantation, then Broker at Moss Creek Realty, then Broker at Dell Web Sun City Hilton Head as part of the opening team.  Lastly, Broker in Charge and Sales Manager for DR Horton after which he retired.  Jay was a multi-engine rated pilot and he and Betty owned and operated Suncrest Treasure Villas, a small vacation resort on Treasure Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, for 35 years.

Jay spent 11 years on the Hilton Head Christian Academy school board, many as Chairman.  He also served as Vice Chairman of SCETV (South Carolina Educational Television) for several years.  He spearheaded the Hilton Head branch of the Christian Coalition in the 90’s and was a two-time delegate to the National Republican Convention.  Jay was a true patriot.  He worked as a campaign manager for several politicians on local, state, and national levels.  He was the Central Regional Director of the Beaufort County Republican Party for several years and was honored in 2014 by The Greater Bluffton Republican Club as the first ever “Republican of the Year.”  He was an active member of Grace Community Church on Hilton Head Island for over 30 years, and after moving to Bluffton became an active member of The Church of the Cross.  He cherished the relationships both brought him over the years.

In addition to being warm, friendly, and generous, he will be remembered by his family and friends as a ‘mover and a shaker,’ movie buff, news enthusiast, and for his fantastical (but true) stories of his life and international travels.  Jay was happiest when entertaining a group of friends with humorous accounts of his life experiences and the interesting people he met along the way.  He will be missed very much by all that knew him.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Julian and Louise Snead Odom; brother, Harold Odom; son, Richard Odom; and grandson, Justin Moriarty.  Survived by his wife, Betty Louise Odom; his children, Cecil Jay Odom Jr. (Melanie), Cynthia (Mark) Coyle, and their mother, Graeme Harris.  His daughters, Sacha (Patrick) Epperson, and Dawn Moriarty-Odom; brothers, Harry Odom, and Jimmy Odom; grandchildren, Rob (Emily) Coyle, Chrystina (Brandon) Shephard, Joshua Moriarty, Jaclyn Odom, Elizabeth Odom, Trey Epperson, Alexis Epperson, and five great grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial donations to:  smiletrain.org or woundedwarriorproject.org

A memorial service will be held at The Church of the Cross (Buckwalter campus) Bluffton, SC on Saturday, February 27 at 2:00pm.  Reservations are required due to current governmental regulations. Please access here for reservations.  It will be live streamed as follows: https://m.facebook.com/groups/438782993980376/