Rev. C. Odell Jones, age 75, passed away in Ozark, Missouri on March 1, 2015 after a valiant battle with Lewy Bodies Dementia. Born September 2, 1939 in Knoxville, Tennessee to Burkett Odell Jones and Iva Ruth Millsaps Jones, he went on to graduate from South High in 1957 and Southeastern Bible College in 1963. He briefly attended the University of Tennessee and was an avid Big Orange fan. He was a 1981 graduate of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri with a Masters in Missiology.

After college he and his wife, Martha Foster Jones, entered the ministry together, pioneering a church in Marathon, Florida while teaching elementary school, prior to becoming missionaries with the Assemblies of God. They served in the West African countries of Liberia and Benin from 1971-1989 when they took positions with ICI (now Global University) in Belgium followed by a time of teaching at Continental Theological Seminary there. 1997 saw them return to the United States to join Global University stateside. Odell retired in 2007 after a few years with CMM and Project 211.

Preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Jordan Hayes, who was born to Heaven, Odell is survived by his wife, Martha (Ozark), a brother, Dewey and wife Peggy (Knoxville, Tn), sister Annamarie James and husband Tom, Sr. (Hendersonville, Tn), son Stephen and wife Jenny (Springfield, Mo), daughter Jennifer Hayes and husband Scott (Ozark, Mo.) along with grandchildren Ryan (Sheena) Jones, Alaina Jones, Kristen Hayes, Aaron Hayes, Andrew Hayes, Avian Jones, Skylar Jones and great-granddaughter Ella Jones.

He leaves behind many friends, colleagues and others who loved him and whose lives were made better just because he was here. He leaves a legacy of giving freely of himself with generosity and compassion, of teaching and reaching, helping others find the good in themselves, of doing the right thing even if it was the hard thing. At the age of nine he was given the idea that he could do something that mattered, that he could impact his world. And so he did.

Memorial contributions may be made to Global University, Account # 838032; C/O Assemblies of God; 1445 Boonville Avenue; Springfield, Missouri 65802.