of Conway, AR

May 5, 1923 - July 19, 2014

Elder Odea D. Sigh Sr. was born to Adam Sigh and Geneveve Gauthia Sigh May 5, 1923 in Lawtell, Louisiana. He is the third child and second son of the union. He was born to be a leader because his father depended on him to take the role in helping the other children to do their household chores and farm work. He attended elementary school in Iota, Louisiana until he was he was in the 6th grade.
As he grew older, he became very interested in string instruments. When he was twelve he learned to play the violin and could play any song by ear that he heard. He continued to play the violin until his recent illness. Violin music was his favorite and most cherished form of music.
On June 13, 1941, during World War II, he enlisted in the army. On October 14, 1944 he received an Honorable Discharge. After he was discharged he enrolled in Walden Hammond Trade School. His favorite subject was shoe making and repair. After he completed his trade, he started his own business. He repaired, shined, dyed and even custom designed shoes in Lake Charles, Louisiana. After working several years, he decided to move his business to Houston, Texas.
In Houston he learned about the ''Three Angels Message'' of Revelation 14 through the ministry of Elder Jeff Young, Elder Batson, and his brother Wallace Sigh. They studied for about six months when the Holy Spirit impressed Elder Odea Sigh, Sr. to obey God's word and joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
After he was baptized he met the beautiful Rosie Glover. He entered into a marriage covenant with Rosie in 1954 a few years later. In the meantime, he learned about the Literature Evangelistic work. He became a Literature Evangelist through the ministry of Elder A. S. Francis and began working in different communities throughout Houston, Texas.
In 1960 Principal Ronald Smith, and Elder Odea Sigh, Sr. conducted a six months Bible studies series in the home of Odea. As a result, about 13 precious souls were baptized which started and organized the Sunnyside SDA Church in Houston. Sunnyside later became the Bellfort SDA Church. Today it is called the World Harvest Outreach SDA Church.
In 1966 Odea led the Southwest Region Conference of SDA in Literature Evangelistic sales with over $23,000.00 of sales that year. In 1971 he led the entire Southwestern Union in Literature Evangelistic sales with over $35,000.00 of sales.
He continued to give Bible studies and distributed literatures for several years. Afterwards he enrolled in a Bible Correspondence Course through Baltimore College of Bible and Seminary. He graduated with a degree in Bible. He also had a B.S. in Theology. Feeling a deeper desire to understand the Bible, Elder Odea Sigh, Sr. attended the Southern Bible College in Houston, Texas and received a Bachelor in Christian Ministry and a Bachelors of Science. He then matriculated to Mount Hope Bible College of Houston, Texas where he received a Masters of Theology. He also received a B.A. at the Houston Baptist University in Houston, Texas. The last school he attended was Texas Southern University of Houston where he received a M.A. in Counseling Guidance.
After spending some time in school Elder Odea Sigh, Sr. decided to organize the Community Study Daily Adventist Academy (CSDA). This school was a self-supported school where the community gave funds and material to run the school. The school offered grades kindergarten through the 8th grade. The students were well behaved and very smart. The students were taken to the public library once a week and the Book Mobile came every other week to the school. After ten years, CSDA merged with Bellfort SDA Church and organized the Bellfort Junior Academy. Bellfort Junior Academy survived about fifteen years before closing down.
Elder Odea Sigh, Sr. assisted with starting the Hebron SDA Church of Houston, Texas as a result canvassing as a Literature Evangelist. Entire families joined the church due to his untiring efforts to spread the Word of God as he greeted everyone door to door with a smile in Houston, and in surrounding cities of Houston, Texas.
Elder Odea Sigh, Sr. continued to spread books to many homes in Houston, Texas. After retirements, Odea and Rosie moved to Conway, Arkansas where they became active members of the Shiloh SDA Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. His main objective was to spread the everlasting Gospel throughout his neighborhood and surrounding communities wherever he went. He did that until he became too ill to continue. However, even in the hospital he was praying for and witnessing to the nurses and those who cared for him.
Left to remember his legacy and cherish his love are: His devoted and loving wife of 60 years, Rosie Lee Glover Sigh of Conway, Arkansas, one sister, Hazel Richardson, sister-in-law, Gladys Sias, five children, Pastor Odea D. Sigh, Jr. (Janet), Dr. Edward R. Sigh (Alberta), Prof. Bettye J. Sigh Parham (Roy), Cleveland Sigh, M.S., MBA, and Dr. Robert V. Sigh, M.P.H, M.D. (Lynette); fourteen grandchildren, Odea D. Sigh, III (Alythia), Sean Sigh (Jescia), Winter Nicole Sigh Beck (Alex), Roy C. Parham, Jr., Cleveland Joel Sigh (Abrigal) Damion Terrell Parham, Brit Sigh, Corrie Sigh Merchant (Obert), Taylor Sigh, Caleb R. Sigh, Austin Sigh, Justin Sigh, Joey Sigh, and Tony Sigh; ten great grandchildren, Tyler Sigh, Sean Sigh II, Gabriel Sigh, Cody Sigh, Oliver Merchant, Owen Merchant, Chloe Merchant, Othniel Merchant, Azariah Sigh, Aaliyah Sigh and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives, church family and friends.

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 10:00am at Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church in Little Rock, AR with burial to follow at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.

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