Khalilah O. Ali, 1944-2019

Born May 18, 1944, Odessa was a graduate of Girard High School, Youngstown State University and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

An accomplished registered nurse, Odessa earned multiple accolades including a master’s degree and post graduate certifications for her four decades of service in the field. She began her nursing career early at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown. She later retired from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Atlanta.

Odessa was preceded into the afterlife by her parents, Dora and Joseph Johnson Sr.; brother, Walter Clyde Woods; sister, Addie Johnson; brother, Randolph Johnson; nephew, Marvin Johnson; and grandson, Stanley Tyri Carson.

Odessa will forever be celebrated by her children, Letea (Stanley) Carson of Woodstock, Ga., Yusef Collier of Philadelphia and Khalilah Ali of Atlanta; her grandchildren, Malik Ali, Kelile Ali, Chelsea Carson, Milan (Aaron) Carson-Devereux, Randi Gould and Gabby Gould; her brothers, Joseph Johnson, Linzy Johnson and Larry Johnson; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A funeral service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, at the F.D. Mason Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.

(special notice)