Odessa Horner

Odessa Ametro “Ametress” Horner, a resident of Sudbury, MA was born at 5:15 am on November 20, 1946 in Baltimore, MD to the late Reverend Josephine F. Coyne-McDaniels of North Adams, MA, and the late Willie Lee of South Carolina. Her family later moved to Boston, MA where Odessa graduated from Jamaica Plain High School excelling in her studies. She later met and married the late Officer Myles James Lawton while working at the VA Hospital in Jamaica Plain and their union created two children, Alisha Odessa Lawton, and Officer Myles Anthony Lawton.

Throughout her life, Odessa worked various jobs from time to time, but her main career was as a homemaker and mother to her children which she loved.  Odessa was a very loving, devoted, and attentive mother and wife and had sense of humor. As a wife and mother, she was always present at school events and supported the needs of her children and husband. Odessa always put her family first above everything.  She was baptized at Grant AME Church at and remained devoted to God raising her children that way and was often found reading her Bible. Her favorite book was the Book of Ruth. She would often say, “Jesus be offense all around me every day,” instead of “Goodbye,” and would encourage her children to say it as well. She loved cooking and repairing mechanical items, and this is where she found her niche. She eventual pursued a career in cooking and had a side catering business. While she pursued her career in electrical engineering, she received various awards and leadership promotions. Consequently, after suffering a stroke, she was force to take an early retirement from the career that she loved so much.

A lover of music, she would often listen to Motown, Soft Rock, Jazz and Gospel throughout the day. Odessa was known to many of her nephews and nieces as “The Favorite Aunt (Auntie Dessa)” because she helped anyone and was always giving of her time and resources. Her home was always a safe haven for anyone that needed a nurturing spirit, a warm embrace, and no judgement.  Odessa had a smile and personality that would light up any room. Her friends and family would often seek her out to host events or cook a meal or two. She also had a special way of putting people at ease with her warmth and lovingness. She would offer some words of wisdom or to just listen (which was her gift).  The middle child of 6 she loved her siblings and would often call them on special occasions or just out of blue to say “I love you” or ask about their day. Her bond with her siblings meant the world to her and she often prayed for it to remain strong. She was a staunch advocate for the underprivileged and often gave of her time volunteering at various shelters as a  911 crisis counselor or resources to disable veterans and patrolmen organizations  as well as her love of animals.

She was an awesome grandmother “grandma,” as she insisted on being called and was blessed to have 8 beautiful grandchildren. She would spend numerous hours with her grandchildren taking them to beaches, playgrounds, movies, dinner, baking sweet treats, playing hid and seek, favorite card games- Uno and  Gin Rummy and her favorite boardgame Monopoly or just listening and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves.

After suffering a massive stroke on January 4th which landed her in the ICU, the Lord called Odessa home on January 15, 2021 at 2:00 pm in the presence of her children Alisha and Myles.

She leaves to carry on her legacy, her grandchildren: Sargent Airmen Michael O’Neal Jr., Tatyana O’Neal, Tonisha Lawton, Jamyla Lawton, Alexis Bozic, William Bozic, Danny Bozic, Myles Lawton Jr., and John Lawton.  Three Brothers: Lewis Coyne, Robert Coyne, and Ernest Coyne; Two sisters: Joyce Coyne and Jacqueline Holmes; a host of loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, in-laws, cousins, friends, colleagues, and neighbors.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Odessa Horner, please visit our floral store.