Brandy Odom, 'go-getter,' 'joyful,' 'loving,' is remembered

By Leroy Shabazz Muhammad | Last updated: May 2, 2018 - 9:48:59 AM

Brandy Odom

NEW YORK—The funeral of Brandy Odom, 26, drew over 500 family, friends and community activists including Nation of Islam members to Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York City.

Brandy was the victim of a yet unsolved murder that shocked her immediate neighborhood, but received very little general media coverage when compared to tragic murders occurring in White neighborhoods.

As a result, Min. Abdul Hafeez Muhammad, who spoke at the April 26 funeral service upon request of the Odom family, made a commitment, as the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s east coast regional representative, to work to make sure law enforcement at the city and state levels know an array of people want to see relentless investigations pursued in other communities pursued in Brandy’s case.

Minister Hafeez Muhammad began his eulogy stating that the focus of the gathering must be on how Brandy lived, not on how she died. “This beautiful picture of Brandy,” he said, “is how we should remember her.”

His directive to focus on her life was in exact harmony with insights shared with The Final Call by Brandy’s friends and family prior to the services. Jason Savage, a friend and former neighbor of Brandy, said that she was a “go-getter,” ambitious, that she made others believe in her and themselves by accomplishing what they thought couldn’t be done. “She said she was going to join Job Corps to get skills and we didn’t believe, but the next thing you knew is that she was gone away and came back with the skills she was determined to get. She really wanted to be a flight attendant. She motivated the rest of her friends.”

Brandy’s uncle, Tiny, her deceased father’s brother, affirmed her ambitious attribute, her energy and fun loving ways. He added that she reminded him of his brother who was a “go-getter” who always did what he set out to do.

Aisha Odom, one of Brandy’s two sisters, gave an intimate view of Brandy as a child designing doll clothes and making clothes as an adult. Brandy was “always making others happy. She was a great aunt to our nieces, nephews and cousins,” said her sister.

Brandy’s aunt, Stacy Henry said that Brandy’s death was particularly heavy on her family because Brandy’s body was found on the same day as her daughter, Daquana’s, 27, birthday. They were very close friends, she added.

(From left) Abdul Hafeez Muhammad, Nicole Odom, aunt Yvette Jackson and Phyllis Muhammad, student regional auditing coordinator, stand in front of portrait of Brandy Odom during funeral service.

Min. Hafeez Muhammad’s remarks encompassed principles of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, namely, that funerals are for the living to gain from the good accomplished by the deceased. His talk was unemotional and designed to ease the grief of the family that numbered half of the audience. The mention that he was representing Min. Farrakhan drew an enthusiastic response from the mourners. “Min. Farrakhan’s message,” he said, “is that justice will prevail.

“Rest assured my people,” Min. Hafeez Muhammad stated, “anyone can kill our body. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad says fear the Lord who can kill the body and the soul. The murderers of Brandy cannot kill the soul of Brandy Odom. That soul rests with the Lord.”

After the services Brandy’s mother, Mrs. Nicolle Odom, told The Final Call she wanted her daughter remembered as a loving, joyful child and said parents should love and cherish their children. “Life is too short,” she warned. Brandy was a premature baby who almost didn’t make it a number of times after birth and during her childhood, said the mother. “I saw her as a fighter from the time she was born,” she said. “Her life showed me she was meant to be,” she continued. “My 26 years with her was a blessing. And, as for the Nation of Islam, I firmly believe that God sent them here to help me. I’ve had no feedback from the NYPD, nor the medical examiner’s office. I have more faith in the Nation of Islam than the NYPD.”

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