Catherine Creighton (Kip) Allison Odum

Catherine Creighton (Kip) Allison Odum, age 59, passed away November 28 at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, GA with her husband and mother by her side after a long and courageous battle with kidney failure. She was a resident of Lawrenceville one of the 25 places she lived during her life. Kip was born in Omaha, NE, and moved frequently as a “military brat.” Her father, Charles Creighton Allison, was a Colonel in the US Army, and she always talked of attending 12 schools in 10 years. When her father served tours in Vietnam, she and her mother, Betty Brown Allison Parker, would return to Warner Robins, Georgia, to live close to her mother’s family. Kip graduated from Dunwoody High School, attended Florida State University, and graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in Journalism. She was an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority at both universities and maintained friendships with many sorority sisters throughout her life. Her professional life included DeKalb Federal Savings and Loan, EnRoute Credit Card Company, and the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia. During her time with the bank, Kip met her wonderful husband, James Richard (Jim) Odum, They married in 1997 in Macon, Georgia. They made their home in the Atlanta area for the past 20 years, where they enjoyed entertaining their many friends and family. Kip and Jim made a perfect host couple, making everyone in their circle feel loved and very special in their home. Kip and Jim enjoyed traveling, Hilton Head and the Caribbean being their favorite destinations. Family was always special to Kip, and all those included in it were very fortunate. She maintained contact with all her cousins, and they treasured her. Everyone was amazed by her incredible memory of every family event. Once she even asked Jim what he did on his first birthday. She remembered hers! Kip leaves behind her husband, Jim Odum, Lawrenceville, who lovingly cared for her during her long illness. She was preceded in death by her father, Col. Charles Creighton Allison. She is also survived by her mother, Betty Allison Parker and her husband, Bill Parker, of Macon, GA who worked tirelessly to help Jim care for her and pursue options to improve her health. Other survivors include a brother- in law and wife, Joe and Susan Odum, Aiken, SC, stepson Jeff Ross, his wife Tami and daughter Payton of Dunwoody; an aunt, Sarah Brown of Warner Robins; an uncle, Jack Latenser, Omaha, NE; and numerous cousins; special friends Lynn and Paul Darcy, Ft. Mill, SC and John and Martina Yearwood, Charleston, SC. The family wishes to express thanks to Fresenius Dialysis Center, Duluth/Lawrenceville, Dr. Michael Katz, Dr.Bruce Bode, Dr. Dina Geisler and Dr. Dinesh Chatoth for their outstanding care of Kip through her years of illness. Memorials may be made to the National Kidney und or the American Diabetes Association. Visitation will be Friday, December 1, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Wages and Sons Gwinnett Chapel, 1031 Lawrenceville Hwy., Lawrenceville, GA. Services will be held Saturday, December 2, 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by interment at 12:45 p.m., Arlington Cemetery, sandy Springs.