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By Lori Shiver

In our little Southern Georgia town, where every face told a story and every corner held a memory, there was Booney Odom. You couldn’t miss him—a mountain of a man, clad in denim overalls stretched tight and a white T-shirt. Booney wasn’t just big in size; he was big in spirit, wandering the streets and town square with an easy charm and an unmistakable mission: to fill his pockets—and eventually his belly with cheeseburgers. On Saturday mornings, he’d always visit Strick’s Barber Shop, where my dad and half the town gathered for haircuts and gossip. For a quarter, Booney would name all of the presidents in perfect order. Throw in another twenty-five cents, and he’d impressively name them backward. Kids were wide-eyed in amazement, and the adults were pretty amazed, too.

When Booney had collected enough, he’d shuffle to Chandler’s Hamburger, a local institution, to trade his earnings for a feast. Despite his size and appearance, Booney spoke with the innocence of a child and a syrupy Southern drawl.

Booney had a knack for timing—or maybe a lack thereof—when it came to his Christmas tradition. Each year, without fail, he’d visit my dad at the bank to ask for his Christmas present. Now, in the beginning, this made sense. He’d show up on Christmas Eve, just as the bank was closing, and my dad would oblige with a little something to make Booney’s holiday merry. But over the years, Booney’s calendar seemed to shift. By the time I was old enough to notice, the tradition had crept from Christmas Eve into early December, then November, and eventually October. One year, right around the fair season, Booney strolled into my dad’s office, grinning like he’d been given a bag full of double cheeseburgers. “Booney,” my dad said, shaking his head, “it’s only October—a good ways from Christmas. Come back closer to Christmas.”  Booney, with that wandering eye rolling skyward, replied, “I’m already here now, and we won’t have to fool with it later.” Caught off guard but amused, my dad reached for his wallet, only to find it empty. Holding it open for Booney to see, he said, “Look, Booney, I don’t even have any cash today.” Without missing a beat, Booney quipped, “Uhhhh, ya check good, Wandell.”

That quick wit and playful spirit made Booney impossible not to love, even when his timing was a bit “off”. Booney had several people to see and places to go during the holiday season. After my dad, the next stop for Booney was Leon Culverson on the square at The Citizens Bank. My dad said to Booney, “now tell Leon that I have you $20, and I’ll bet he will give you more just to get 1 up on me!” (when he really gave him three, $5 dollars bills). By the time Booney visited the Coxes at the Funeral Home and Ramsay and John Simmons across the Flint River at Elberta Crate there’s no telling what “Christmas cheer” was going for! Folks were loyal to Booney and he was the same in return.

Booney’s loyalty wasn’t limited to our small Southern town. He had a way of making himself known, even to the stars. His favorite? Joe Namath, the legendary quarterback from the University of Alabama and later the New York Jets. Booney wrote to Joe so often—proclaiming him the GOAT (greatest of all time) that it caught Namath’s attention. And in a gesture that showed just how far Booney’s charm reached, Joe brought him to New York City to ride in a parade by his side.

I’ve only seen one photo from that day—the best day in Booney’s life. There he was, decked out in a Jets uniform, with a helmet perched on his massive head like a peanut. It was the kind of image that captured everything Booney was: larger than life and absolutely unforgettable.

Joe Namath’s generosity didn’t stop there. In later years, he bought Booney’s mother a washer and dryer and, when Mrs. Odom passed away, paid for her headstone. It’s a testament to Booney’s undeniable way with people. He could connect with anyone, from the kids at the barber shop to an NFL icon.

Booney may be gone now, but his memory is woven into the fabric of our town.  He was more than just a character; he was a legend to all who knew him.
There are characters everywhere in this world but ours are special and their memories will remain with us forever.

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RECIPE: The Booney Burger

The Booney Burger originated at Crave Eatery many years ago and was a crowd-pleaser.  This rival is made with two patties, two kinds of cheese, two slices of crispy bacon, and all the toppings-truly classic comfort food!

• .5 lbs. 80/20 ground beef
• Salt and pepper or burger seasoning
• 8 slices bacon
• 4 slices cheddar cheese
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• 4 sesame seed buns
• Ketchup
• Mayonnaise
• Tomato slices
• Thin sliced red onion
• Lettuce

• Fry the bacon in a skillet or bake in the oven until crispy. Set aside.

• Using your hands, shape the ground beef into 3-4 oz. sized balls. If you prefer not to weigh them, divide the beef into 6 or 8 equal-sized portions, depending on if you want to make three double cheeseburgers or four.

• Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat. Turn the vent hood on and the smoke alarms off. Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil (or leftover bacon grease!) to the skillet. You’ll have plenty of fat after the first round of patties are cooked.

• Place 2-3 burger balls in the pan, then use a large, flat spatula to immediately press them down into a thin patty (about ¼ inch thick). It’s important to do this right after the patty hits the skillet, before it has started cooking. Sprinkle the top with salt and pepper. 

• Flip the burger once the upper side begins to change color. Season the other side, then top with cheese. The second side will only take a minute or two to finish. 

• Remove the burgers from the skillet, and repeat with remaining patties.

• To assemble, slather ketchup on the bottom of one bun, followed by one patty, then the second patty (with different cheese, if desired), then the bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, and/or pickles. Slather the top bun with mayonnaise and sandwich together.