Lessie Odessa Johnson was born in Holmes County Mississippi to Annie Tate and Lesley Johnson. He spent most of his formative years living with Aunt Babe in Belzoni, Mississippi, but regularly visited with his mom and siblings in Lexington. Odessa was fiercely independent. This personality trait was evident when he left Mississippi for Indianapolis at 16 and could be seen as he lived alone until his last hospital/rehabilitation stay at age 87.
Shortly after relocating to Indianapolis, Odessa enlisted in the US Army and served in the Korean war from 1951-1953. While Odessa was known to be fearless and a bit of a risk-taker, the only time he admitted being afraid was when he served in the war. He wrote his mother a letter a day while he was stationed in Korea. She cherished those letters from Odessa and stored them in a shoe box until her death. Odessa loved his mom dearly and he and his brothers, Joe and King, and son, Karl would regularly drive South to visit her throughout the year, but especially on her birthday each year to take her out to dinner.
While Odessa was a loner and a very private person, he will be remembered as being an exceptional pool player! He was considered one of the top players in the city. In addition to winning large amounts of cash, it is rumored that he won a Cadillac and a house in a couple of high stakes games. In addition to being a sports enthusiast who loved watching basketball, football and World Series baseball games, Odessa also enjoyed Nascar Races. He didn't just enjoy races, he loved cars and was known to be a fast driver as well. Odessa loved all kinds of music and had a great sense of humor. He was also known to be stubborn. When family members would try to encourage him to stop smoking, he would say in a gruff voice, 'I've been smoking since I was 13. Why would I stop now?' Odessa worked a number of jobs, but primarily in the construction, trucking and foundry industries. He was particularly knowledgeable about concrete and was employed by a concrete manufacturer for a number of years.
Odessa was preceded in death by his son Karl Lynn Johnson; parents, Lesley Johnson and Annie McGaw, and stepfather, Ed McGaw, Sr.; siblings, Jerdine McGaw Moss, King Solomon McGaw, Minnie Dixon, Lawrence McGaw and Lynch McGaw. He is survived by his children, Leslie Johnson (Angela), Glenn M. Johnson (Stephanie), Tamara Starks, and Derrick Johnson, Sr.; and grandchildren, Tanisha Johnson, Aaron Johnson, Marquis Johnson, Jeremy Johnson, Micah Johnson, Lashantee Evans, Brittany Johnson, Dr. Danielle Johnson, Taylor Johnson, Derrick Johnson, Jr., Xavier Batty, Daimont Johnson, Dontae Johnson, Darius Johnson, Darius Lewis, and Anaya Parker. His surviving siblings cherish his memory - Geneva Meeks, Frank McGaw, Ed McGaw, Jr., Mary Patrick, Joseph McGaw, Catherine Jones and Curtis McGaw. A number of family will remember him fondly including his ex-wife Marjorie Johnson, a host of nieces, nephews and cousins and a few close friends.
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