Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

June 12, 2026

David Quitman Odom, 63, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina after an extended illness. He was a lifelong Tarheel and native of North Carolina, born on December 28, 1962, in Chapel Hill. 

 His greatest loves were his family, friends and enjoying the great outdoors; if given the option, David would always choose to be outside, for work or for leisure. He loved bow hunting and fishing across North Carolina, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coast. He especially enjoyed fishing along the banks of the Catawba River and wandering through the woodlands of McDowell Park with a trusty labrador retriever by his side, namely Nugget and Duke.

 A meticulous craftsman by trade, David excelled as a framer, carpenter, and builder. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (then Pembroke State University) in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts, emphasis in sculpture. His work serves people across the state, marked by his signature mix of ingenuity and utility. One of his most beloved creations is a 26-foot pirate ship play structure constructed for his nephews and nieces in 2008 that still stands today in Chapel Hill. From offices to houses to his children’s elementary school art projects and Halloween costumes, everything David built was made with excellence and precision.

 David was also a beloved fan of soccer; he enjoyed following the Arsenal Football Club with his son, Sean, and was a youth soccer coach for many years. David was named to the Southeastern All-Conference Soccer Team (1979, 1980), attended college on a four-year athletic scholarship for soccer, and was awarded the Pembroke State Athletic Award in Soccer (1981).

If you were lucky, at one point you got to experience David grabbing a microphone and belting out a classic tune, like “Candle in the Wind” or “The Circle of Life.” He was a lifelong fan of 80s rock, and was the lead singer for local metal bands Excyter and AKA (1980s). 

 David graduated from Olympic High School (1981), where he was inducted into the Order of the Trojan for his outstanding service to school, church, and community. David’s Christian faith was central to his quiet life in later years. First nurtured at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Steele Creek, it shaped a spirit marked by kindness, generosity, humility, and a deep appreciation for God’s creation.

As we mourn David's passing, we rejoice in the assurance of our Christian faith that we will see him again fully healed and restored: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” – John 5:24

 David is survived by his daughter Brooke O. Figueroa and her husband Andres Figueroa of Pasadena, CA; his son Sean Q. Odom and daughter-in-law Hloan Ksor of Marion, NC; former wife Lee Pam Oxendine Odom of Lumberton, NC; and his beloved grandsons Julien Odom, Oslo Odom, Milo Figueroa, and Caleb Figueroa. He is also survived by his siblings: Tommy Odom (Martha Odom), Amy Odom, and Matthew Odom; his stepmother Carmen Odom; stepsisters Jennifer Buell and Cyndie Christian; uncle Jimmy Odom (Phyllis Odom); aunts Linda Odom, Sylvia Odom, Jerrie Thompson and Judy Rinn; numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins; as well as two of his oldest and dearest friends, David Harrison and David Seviner, and many of his brothers in the Alpha Omega Upsilon Fraternity.

He was predeceased by his parents NC State Senator Fountain Odom and Jane L. Odom; grandparents Thomas Q. Odom and Laura Pearl Odom; grandparents David S. Lowe and Ruth L. Lowe; Godparents Sam and Virginia Winget; Uncles Glenn Odom, Lee Hurley, John S. Lowe, Robert L. Thompson; and many dear friends including Ward Medlock whom he loved to fish with at Medlock's Pond. 

Special thanks are given to the neuro medical teams at UNC Healthcare and Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center for their dedication and loving care towards David, to cousin Dean Thompson for her presence and support during this difficult time, and to Siew K Keu, who cared for David for many years. Gifts in memoriam may be made to The Olympic High School Foundation whose mission is to attract, support and retain excellent teachers, improve the school's educational opportunities, and provide resources that will focus on increasing students' upward mobility and success after graduation. 

A celebration of life will be held at the Open Kitchen in Charlotte, NC on Sunday the 28th of June 2026 at 5:00pm. 

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral and Cremation Service, Charlotte, NC; Online condolences may be shared at kennethpoeservices.com.