History - Odum United Methodist Church

In 1888, the church began as the Odum Mission on the Brentwood Charge, and was located two miles north of Odum. Godfrey Odum deeded a half acre of land for a parsonage on February 14, 1888 at an undetermined location.

Two years later, Rev. William Thomas Rea began four years service at the Brentwood Mission. In 1891, fifteen people joined the church after a ten-day tent meeting. Later that same year, Godfrey Odum deeded a quarter of an acre of land for a church. The following year, in 1892, Rev. Rea built the first church, named Rea's Chapel. His wife died in October of that same year, and he conducted her funeral. Her body was believed to be the first one buried in the new cemetery by the church.

In 1925, additional property was secured for a new parsonage in Odum. In 1930, the old church was replaced with a new one. A new fellowship hall and Sunday School annex was added between 1959 and 1960, with the majority of the construction completed by the men of the church. About 1965, stained-glass windows were installed. Several years later, the men added a well-equipped kitchen to the Sunday School annex. The church steeple was added in 1984, and new shrubbery and a sprinkler system was installed two years later.

In 1993, an antique glass cabinet was donated to the church to house historical memorabilia. This cabinet was once used in the Hires' General Merchandise and Market in downtown Odum.