CLAYTON – Kirkland Ruffin Odom, 66, died Tuesday, May 24, 2011.

Born June 18, 1944, he was the son of the late Henry Clay and Carrie Belle Ruffin Odom of Ahoskie, and was the brother of the late Joseph Edmund Jacobs, Sr. of Raleigh.

An outstanding athlete at Ahoskie High School, he carried those talents with him to East Carolina University where he was a star performer for the Pirate’s football team.  After graduating, he served four years in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.

A good part of his business life was spent in Smithfield, NC where he was involved in real estate development and home building.  The owner and operator of Homecraft Properties, Inc., he continued in that capacity until his death.

A member of First Baptist Church of Smithfield, and a charter member of the Homebuilders Association of Johnston County, he had served as its President and was named the Builder of the Year in 1981.

His favorite pastime was golf and he enjoyed traveling with his friends and spending time with the family at his beach house in Kill Devil Hills.

Surviving are his wife of 45 years, Ida Campen Odom; his son, Kirkland Ruffin Odom Jr.; his daughter, Dr. Carrie Odom Barzola and husband, Charlie; and granddaughter, Allison Anne Barzola, all of Raleigh; and two brothers, Dr. Richard Odom and wife, Elise, of San Francisco, CA and Henry Clay Odom, Jr. of Virginia Beach, VA.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011 in First Baptist Church of Smithfield.  A graveside service will follow at 4 p.m. in Beaver Hill Cemetery in Edenton.

Friends may join the family at the residence, 115 Jasmine Drive, Clayton, on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Arrangements are by Underwood Funeral Home, Smithfield, NC and by Miller Funeral Home & Crematory, Edenton.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Smithfield, PO Box 209, Smithfield, NC 27577.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.