Odester Days passed away peacefully at Zilber Hospice with her daughter Rena at her side. Odester was witty, humorous and was a good storyteller. She was a phenomenal and classy woman. Odester personified beauty.

Odester was born on October 25, 1937 to her parents James & Evelyn Barner Simpson in Berclair, MS. Her parents relocated to Itta Bena, MS. Through this union Odester had 6 brothers and 1 sister.

Odester graduated from Amanda Elsy High. She was a superior athlete. She was captain of her basketball team and excelled in Track and Field. She was lightning fast, so fast she beat Wilma Rudolph. She could have gone onto the Olympics but got married to William Paynes and relocated to Chicago, IL. Her maid of honor Johnni Robinson is still her best friend till today. Through this union Odester gave birth to 3 children, daughters Neregin Paynes and Rena Paynes and son Anthony Paynes. Odester relocated back to Itta Bona, MS and met the love of her life, Claude Days.

Odester and Claude relocated to Racine, WI where they had a blended family. She had step-daughters Claudia, (Julius Gails)Days, Ruth (Ed Purnell) Days, Silver ("Shirley") Days. She gave birth to 2 more children; daughter Ingrid Days and son Christopher Days.

Odester was an active member of Church of Christ and enjoyed in raising her children. She enjoyed being a home maker. While advocating for her children's education, she often visited the school. Teachers and principals would marvel at her beauty. "Whose mother is that?" I would proudly boast "that's my mother."

Mom was multitalented she could sew, cook, dance, and play a mean hand of "bid whiz". She was known for her "corn bread" and her award winning "sweet potato pie". She loved dancing and her partner of choice was Robert (Bootsy) Hayes. Together they were nimble on their feet.

Odester continued her activism in the Civil Rights Movement. She continued to march with her sister Euvester whom she saw the greats. Martin Luther King, Ralph Albernathy and Bayard Rustin. She even rode on a plane with James Brown. She was also a active member of the Democratic Party.

She was a pollster and was invited to attend the Governor's Ball in Madison, WI. I can still remember her in that Baby Blue gown, wearing her signature Afro with a gardenia in her hair, She was "Lady Day" Her contributions were endless. Her beauty was immeasurable just like her kindness. she will be missed hollering Bingo!

Odester was preceded in death by her parents James D. Simpson, Evelyn Simpson; brothers Richard Kirklen, James D. Jr, Calvin Benjamin, Kenneth Ivory, and Quincy Thomas Simpson, husband Claude Days and son Christopher Days.

Odester is survived by her brother Sylvester (Ruth) of Detroit, Ml, sister Euvester (Les Range) Simpson of Jackson, MS Step daughters Claudia (Julius Gails) of Racine, WI, Silver ("Shirley") Days daughter Ingrid Days of Phoenix, AZ Daughter Neregin Paynes and son Anthony (Brenda) Days of Racine, WI and Daughter Rena Paynes of Milwaukee. Grand Children Sean Coleman, Michael (Shawnie) Chones, Mia (Charles) "Chucky" Omar Foster, Nia and Taurean Chones, Latisha Days, Quinn Days, and Great Grand Children Cameron, Monte, Isaiah of Jackson, MS, and Arys Coleman, Jair Coleman of Washington DC.

Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory on Friday MAY 17, 2024 , for a visitation from 10:00 am until 11:00 am.  A service celebrating her life and Homegoing will take place at 11:00 am with Rev. Dr. Daryn Crenshaw officiating.  Her interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park.

Service Details

Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory on Friday MAY 17, 2024 , for a visitation from 10:00 am until 11:00 am.

A service celebrating her life and Homegoing will take place at 11:00 am with Rev. Dr. Daryn Crenshaw officiating.

For those wishing to watch the service via livestream, you may click on this link at 11:00 am https://youtube.com/live/GGL-KwnURkg?feature=share Due to music licensing, you may hear silence when recorded music is played during the service.

Her interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park.