Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
The family of the late Sgt. Aaron Odom (inset) are pictured with members of Barnwell City Council and members of the Barnwell Police Department at the Oct. 3 council meeting after being presented with a resolution in his memory.
The late Sergeant Aaron Odom dutifully served the Barnwell Police Department (BPD) for 35 and a half years.
“I’m going to miss my old friend,” said retired BPD Chief Robert Miller, who first met Odom in 1978.
Odom joined the BPD in 1972 and retired in July 2007, leaving a long legacy behind him.
“He was the second Black officer in the City of Barnwell,” said Miller of his friend. “Luke Gadson was the first, and Sergeant Odom was the second. Then I was the third. I’m the last of the crew.”
As the second Black BPD officer to serve in Barnwell County, Sergeant Odom forged a pathway for young Black adults interested in a career in law enforcement. Barnwell County Sheriff Office’s Lieutenant Eric Kirkland being one of them.
“I followed in the footsteps of Aaron Odom, Sheriff (Steve) Griffith, and Luke Gadson, my uncle,” said Lt. Kirkland. “They are what I would call the pioneers of law enforcement.”
Lt. Kirkland has childhood memories of Sergeant Odom and his uncle, the late Luke Gadson, policing together. Gadson was Barnwell’s first Black police officer and partner to Odom.
“Thirty years later I guess I have him and a few others to thank,” said Lt. Kirkland.
At the Oct. 3 Barnwell City Council meeting, Mayor Marcus Rivera asked the family of Sergeant Odom to stand amongst council members, BPD Chief Lamaz Robinson, and BPD officers. Mayor Rivera presented the Odom family with a resolution in memory of Sergeant Odom, honoring his dedicated service to the community.
The resolution stated, “During his tenure with Barnwell Police Department, Aaron Odom received a Commendation Award for saving the life of a drowning citizen at Lake Edgar Brown.”
This was one of the many times Sergeant Odom exhibited valor and dedication to service throughout his career.
Lt. Kirkland recalls the style of policing practiced by Odom and Gadson stating, “They provided counsel in lieu of arrests all the time.”
In addition to serving as a BPD officer, Odom was a Barnwell native and a trustee of Jordan Baptist Church, the same church he was baptized in at age 12.
Odom was also a member of the Barnwell Masonic Lodge #180, Prince Hall Consistory #282, and an employee at Guinyard & Sons Funeral Home and Lebby Funeral Home.
He enjoyed listening to Otis Redding’s ‘Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,’ and watching the Atlanta Braves hit home runs.
Before his career as a BPD officer began in 1972, he married the love of his life in June 1969, Linda Weathersbee. The couple was married for 53 years, 2 months, 21 days, and 15 hours and raised three kids together–Sharon, Lisa, and Aaron Jr.
Miller cherishes the times his family spent with the Odoms and remembers countless trips to Florida where both families enjoyed vacationing together. He recalls fishing and farming with his friend, and the good times that came with it.
Miller hopes to be a source of support for the Odom family during this time, just as Sergeant Odom was when Miller’s wife passed away.
“He was a great friend in my life and I sure miss him,” said Miller, who describes his relationship with Odom as a blessing.
Odom is buried at the Jordan Baptist Church Cemetery.
