Odessa Jordan

A Life Well Lived

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

Odessa Faye Jordan (nee Cobb) was born on January 23, 1934 in Fort Worth, Texas to parents John Isaac Cobb and Odessa Richard.

Mother Jordan grew up in the historic Stop Six neighborhood of Fort Worth, and attended the Fort Worth Public Schools, including the iconic I.M. Terrell High School. As a young woman, working in the cafeteria at TCU, a co-worker was stabbed on the job and died in her arms. That heartbreaking moment would mark the beginning of a life defined by compassion and a commitment to serving others in their time of need.

In 1966, Mother Jordan committed her life to the Lord by way of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Mother Jordan attended Gospel Temple Christ Holy Sanctified Church, under the pastorate of the late Bishop E.L. McBride during the late 1960s. She worked as Pastor’s Aide President during her membership at Gospel Temple. In 1972, she placed her membership at Holy Tabernacle Church of God and Christ, under the pastorate of presiding Bishop Robert Sample. There, Mother Jordan worked in the Mission Ministry serving faithfully for more than forty years. Through her years at Holy Tabernacle, she was a revered and beloved Church Mother and mentor to countless members. Her calling—both vocational and spiritual—was most powerfully expressed through a lifelong devotion to service, from her early days at TCU to her work with FWISD and later in home healthcare. She found great joy and satisfaction whether serving on the Hollywood Hills Neighborhood Association or providing families in need with Thanksgiving meals.

During her lifetime, Mother Jordan was first married to Benjamin F. Harris, and later found lasting love and companionship in her marriage to T.L. Jordan. She was a loving and faithful Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Mother of the Church. She loved serving her family and her church community and served both, faithfully. Mother Jordan was resolute in her faith, and unapologetically committed to her relationship with Christ; serving Him boldly until the end. Even as her health faded, she insisted on attending service when she could, and was lovingly honored for her faithful service by the congregation at Holy Tabernacle when she attended on Mother’s Day 2025.

On Friday, June 13, 2025, Mother Jordan answered her Heavenly Father’s call home. She is preceded in death by her husband, T.L. Jordan; her parents, John and Odessa Cobb, and siblings, John Isaac Cobb, Jr., Ruby Willis; Floye Perkins; James Cobb; and Harold Cobb. Her sister, Eunita Hall, survives her.

Mother Jordan will forever live in the hearts of her family. She leaves to cherish her memory, five children: Pamela Harris; Debra Morris (Michael); Michael Jordan, Ronald Jordan (Virginia) and Sandra Obi. God blessed Mother Jordan with ten grandchildren: Eric Harris (deceased); Tanisha Baker; Stephanie Graves; Rachel Smith (Michael); Jonathan Morris (Katherine); David Morris; Isaac Obi; Deon James; Melynee Ellis (Charles); Ryan Mitchell; and great-grandchildren: Mahia Ellis; Charles Ellis III; Denishawa Evans; Donella Evans; Devina Titus; Aaron “Zach” and Parker Graves; Olivia and Claire Smith; Rhian Mitchell; Antonio James and eight great-great grandchildren, with a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones.