Lana N. Odom, 82, of Ridgeland, passed away on January 7, 2026, at her home in Ridgeland, MS. She was born on February 15, 1943, and was the daughter of Elmer Nelms and Willodine Blake Nelms. Born in Belzoni, MS. Lana was a former teacher and librarian at Madison Ridgeland Academy and was appointed as a representative to the Madison County Library Board. She and her husband Jerry moved from Ridgeland to serve churches in Mississippi, Virginia, Florida and Texas and eventually returned to Ridgeland to serve at Trace Ridge Baptist Church and then Colonial Heights Baptist Church. After her husband passed, Lana moved to Seoul, South Korea to teach English in a small school for two years. She continued her worldly travels over the course of seven years and visited Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Wales, Spain, Italy and France with Student Ambassadors from People to People. More recently, Lana was the Director of International Ministry at First Baptist Church in Jackson where she led the ESL program. Lana is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Jerry Odom, and brothers, Charlie Nelms and Richard Nelms. Lana is survived by her sons, David Odom (Natalie) and Daniel Odom (Cynthia); grandchildren, Amanda Burke (Kristopher) and Emma Pepper (Thomas), great granddaughter, Josephine Burke; and brother Steven Nelms. Visitation will be on Saturday January 17, 2026, at Natchez Trace Funeral Home in Madison from 12:30pm until 2:00pm with a chapel service to follow at 2:00pm. Interment will be in Natchez Trace Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be made to First Baptist Church of Jackson, Missions.