However humble the beginning, life's journey is filled with hills of pleasure and mountains of happiness and when one's life has touched in a positive way, so many others those hills of pleasure become mountains of happiness and so it is with the journey in life of our Honoree tonight, Mrs.Odessa Smith Wyatt.

The story of Odessa Wyatt's life's journey began in the small southern community of Harrison, Texas as the second of four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Smith.

Even as a child, she exemplified the qualities, fortitude and perservance characteristic of a great leader, great educator, and great counselor. She was a soft spoken child, yet one with as irrepressible acumen for dealing with the obstacles and challenges that are a part of life's journey.

Her formal education began in the public schools of the Harrison Community from which she graduated with honors--the first milestone in a journey that has brought to her innumerable honors, awards, and plaudits.

A graduate of Houston Tilliston College and Prairie View A&M Universities and having had her exceptional abilities recognized by many, she was offered a teaching position in the public schools of Chalk Bluff--launching a career in education that would positively touch the lives of thousands. She remained a teacher in the Chalk Bluff system for twenty one years transferring to Dunbar High School in West, Texas where she taught an additional eighteen years.

She was converted at an early age and became a member of the Goshen Cumberland Presbyterian Church under the pastorate of Rev. P. H. Moore--Later joining Waco Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Included among her many, many, church activities are positions of leadership in every level of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, including among others, National Junior Mission Sponsor; Treasurer; Instructor in the Sunday School Convention of Methods; Financial Secretary of Synodical Sunday School Convention for half a Century; Organizer of Presbyterial Junior Mission; Teacher in the East Waco Cumberland Presbyterian Sunday School.

Perhaps one of her greatest recognitions came when she was personally asked by the Moderator of the 1924 General Assembly to serve as the Musician for that body for its fiftieth anniversary, a position she has held at various times in all levels of her church.

In recognition for her contiubutions to the East Waco Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where through her efforts and resources, the church acquired bricks, carpet, neon signs, new coverings, organ and other items that helped to beautify the East Waco edifice, the fellowship hall of the church is named the Odessa Wyatt Fellowship Hall in her honor.

The many rewarding years of the class room atmosphere have past and gone. However, the memories linger in the minds and hearts of those who have been under the watchful care. Her career dream has concluded and become a reality with satisfaction of fulfillment of her commitments. Her dream of teaching to touch the lives of tomorrow has become a reality.
[Source: The Cumberland Flag, August 1989, page 14]