Odell Bridges Boulware

Odell Bridges Boulware, 92, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, July 17, 2026, surrounded by the love of family.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at her beloved Cool Branch Baptist Church in Blair, SC. Rev. John Epps and Rev. James McManus will be officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot of the church cemetery. The family will receive friends for visitation at the church from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM.

Born February 16, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Annie Boulware Bridges and Orange Odell Bridges. She was a lifelong resident of the Cool Branch community. Odell attended Fairfield County Schools and especially cherished memories from Monticello High School in Blair, SC.

She married Davis Harold Boulware on January 19, 1952 and together they shared 40 wonderful years in the Boulware home place on the highest hill in Dark Corner. Odell loved the location and history of the family home, where she lived for over 70 years. Together they raised three children: Harold, Sheila and Lisa. Her most treasured title was Nana and she doted on Scott, Daniel, Anna, Rebecca, Jeremy, Sydney and Hannah, her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Odell had various occupations including working at Cone Mills, several local sewing rooms and she is best remembered as a caregiver to numerous family and friends throughout her lifetime. She was a member of Cool Branch Baptist Church where she was the oldest member and church historian. Her church activities included singing in the choir, Choir Director, WMU Director, leading the Cemetery Committee, Seniors Group and Hospitality Committee.

Odell took every opportunity during her life to be involved and socialize with friends, family and community. She especially enjoyed music and singing. A group of like-minded music lovers decided to start gathering on Friday nights to enjoy music and fellowship and Blackstock Bluegrass was formed. Odell's warm personality and gracious hospitality soon enveloped everyone who entered those doors. Every Friday night you could find her on the front row.

Odell never met a stranger. She was a wonderful cook, a gracious host, the giver of the best hugs and a friend to everyone she met. She will leave a big hole in the heart of everyone who knew her; however, the positive impact she left will live on forever.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Harold Boulware of Chester; her daughter, Lisa B. Cooper of Lugoff, daughter-in-law, Kim Desrosiers of Chester; grandchildren, Scott (Michele) Boulware of Winnsboro, Daniel (Olivia) Cooper of Columbia, Anna Cooper of Lugoff, Rebecca (Tony) Desrosiers of Stella, NC and Jeremy (Jeffrey) Desrosiers of Orlando, FL; great granddaughters, Sydney Boulware of Winnsboro and Hannah Desrosiers of Stella, NC; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter Sheila B. Desrosiers, and her sons-in-law Bob Desrosiers and Phillip Cooper, Jr.

Memorials may be made to the Cool Branch Baptist Church or the Blackstock Bluegrass Station in Loving Memory of Miss Odell.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.barronfuneralhome.com.