Odell Joiner was born on June 4, 1935 in Butler, Georgia as the second oldest child of the late Jesse Joiner and the late Lilly Mae Hayes.

She grew up in the Deep South where she and her family worked as sharecroppers. It was there she met Willie H. Montfort whom she later married. From this union were born 4 children, Maebelle (Deceased), Andrew (Deceased) Gary and Marilyn. After the birth of their first daughter, the family moved to Cleveland and Odell began attending Hartsville Primitive Baptist Church. She served there faithfully for many years as choir director and Sunday school teacher. Later in 1972, she joined Christ Temple Apostolic Church where she was baptized in Jesus name serving as a cook and a member of the building fund.

Odell worked many years at the Ohio Brush Company and later joined the USPS as a mail carrier where she worked until her retirement. In 1976, she remarried to Elder Walter Barnes Sr. and from this union one child was born, Walter Barnes, Jr. Odell and Elder Walter Barnes Sr. remained married until his death in 1983.

In 1986, she remarried to Deacon Alfred Drake. They served as foster parents and graciously welcomed James Hunter and Shameka Taylor into their family. Odell and Deacon Alfred Drake remained married until his death in 1998.

In February of 1993, Odell heeded the call to full-time ministry and opened Bibleway Church of Deliverance on 7010 Hough Ave. She served there faithfully until 2003 when she stopped pastoring, but continued to preach and serve in other ministries, including Jesus Christ Apostolic, Greater United Glorious Church and House of Refuge. Shortly before her passing, she joined the Cathedral Worship Center and was eager to begin serving there.

In addition to being a dedicated Pastor, she was a loving mother who consistently prayed for her family and many others in need. She often took time to visit the sick and shut-in or drop off food/clothes to fellow church members or their families. She also worked alongside her daughter Marilyn in her women’s ministry praying, cooking, and serving food to those in need. Odell loved tending her flowers, making her yard the most beautiful on her street and bragging on how wonderful it looked.  She was known for her delicious food (soup, oxtails, tomatoes & rice, cabbage, peach cobbler to name a few) and penchant for wearing fancy suits complete with matching hat, purse, and shoes.

Throughout her entire life, she held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with those who surrounded her. She trusted God completely and was a great example of a woman that lived to please God and there’s no doubt her legacy followed her to heaven.

She joins in heaven two children, Maebelle Williams and Andrew Montfort.

Odell leaves to cherish her fond memories: three children Gary Montfort (Rhonda deceased), Marilyn Montfort and Walter Barnes (Vikki), fourteen grandchildren (one who preceded her in heaven), 19 great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, five brothers; Jessie Joiner Jr, Willie Joiner, Charlie Joiner, Calvin Joiner, Henry Joiner (deceased), three sisters; Emma Jean Turner (deceased), Rose Pearl Brown (deceased), Peggy Ferguson and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and dear friends.