Leggette Wellington Odom III, 82, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Wesley Pines Retirement Community in Lumberton, NC.

Born on September 7, 1944, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, son of Leggette Wellington Odom, Jr. and Mary Horne Odom. Leggette was the eldest of three brothers. He grew up in Wagram, North Carolina.

On October 2, 1966, Leggette married Elizabeth McRae Odom, the love of his life. They recently marked 60 years of marriage. Avid golfers and shaggers, they supported one another wholeheartedly and faced life together as a team. His love for her deeply rooted in the vows they shared and forever sealed in the life they lived, memories they made, and the family they built.

Leggette was the father of two children: Mary Elizabeth Odom Carroll known as “Mary Beth” of Sunset Beach, and Leggette Wellington Odom IV, known as “Dusty”, and his wife, Amanda, of Lumberton. He cherished his children and was equally proud of his three grandsons: Jamie Odom and his wife, Ericka, of Wilmington; Jacob Odom of Lumberton; and Shane Carroll of Wake Forest.

He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren. He also leaves behind his brothers, John Odom and his wife, Linda, of Raleigh, and Phillip Odom and his wife, Dana, of Hastings, Nebraska; three sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. He considered himself blessed to have such wonderful siblings and in-laws, whose closeness, laughter, and devotion brought great joy to his life.

Leggette was preceded in death by his parents and his cherished son-in-law, Kenneth Wayne Carroll of Clayton, whose sudden and tragic passing in 2007 was a profound loss that Leggette faced with deep sadness.

Leggette held an associate degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College in Civil Engineering. His career span over 40 years in the asphalt industry. He was a Master Mason and member of St. Alban’s Masonic Lodge No. 114 of Lumberton and a devoted member of Trinity Episcopal Church, serving as both Sr. and Jr. Warden.

Those who knew him spoke highly of his unwavering faith in God, his love for family, his dedication to hard work, his positivity, and his remarkable ability to find the perfect phrase to capture any occasion or subject.

Leggette and his family had been enduring the emotional toll of “the long goodbye” for many years. In preparation for this journey, he and his wife decided to move to Wesley Pines Retirement Community in 2016. Throughout his time there, he received exceptional care from the wonderful and devoted staff. The family expresses their deepest gratitude to everyone who has cared for him throughout the years and the phases of his Alzheimer’s. Leggette would often say in greeting he was far better off than he deserved, but in this case, he received everything he deserved and more in the comfort and care he received at Wesley Pines.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Wesley Pines Employee Christmas Fund, 1000 Wesley Pines Road, Lumberton, NC 28358, Trinity Episcopal Church, 1202 N. Chestnut St. Lumberton, NC 28358, or a charity of one’s choice.

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 11:00 am at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1202 N. Chestnut St. Lumberton, NC, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.