Dodie Osteen Memorial: Grandsons Remember Her
Houston, Texas — Under the warm glow of Lakewood Church’s lights, the Osteen family gathered with thousands of friends, church members, and believers from around the world to celebrate the life of Dolores “Mama Dodie” Osteen. While many shared stories of her unwavering faith, compassion, and lifelong ministry, it was the words of her grandsons that painted one of the most intimate portraits of the woman they called Grandma.
Jonathan and Alexandra Osteen stood before the congregation, their voices steady yet tender, carrying decades of shared memories. They spoke not of titles or accomplishments, but of quiet, personal moments that revealed the heart of the matriarch.
For more than fifty years, they said, Dodie ended every day with the same sacred routine — reading her list of healing scriptures, which she affectionately called her “medicine.” These verses, drawn from passages like Psalm 118, Isaiah 53, James 5, and Exodus 23, were more than words on a page. They were her lifeline, her daily act of faith, and the anchor that kept her spirit strong through life’s storms.
“She wouldn’t go to sleep until she had read them,” one grandson recalled. “It wasn’t just habit — it was belief. And that belief became the foundation of everything she gave to others.”
The grandsons shared how, even in the face of personal challenges, Dodie’s faith remained unshaken. They remembered her voice praying over them before tests at school, her hands blessing them before trips, and her soft laughter during family dinners. They spoke of her warmth in the everyday moments — the way she noticed if someone at the table looked tired, the way she’d send handwritten notes filled with encouragement, the way her hugs made everything feel safe.
One of the most touching revelations was how those same healing scriptures that sustained her for decades became a song the grandchildren wrote together in her honor. “Now I see those verses differently,” one grandson said. “They’re not just words — they’re a part of her legacy, and a part of us.”
As the sanctuary filled with the gentle melody of the violin, it became clear that this wasn’t only a farewell — it was a passing of the torch. Her grandsons, along with all who loved her, now carry the responsibility of living out the faith she modeled so consistently.
In their closing words, they reminded everyone that Grandma Dodie’s life was a living testimony: faith in God, love for people, and the belief that no act of kindness is ever wasted.
And as they stepped away from the podium, the crowd rose to their feet in tribute — not just to a beloved grandmother, but to a woman whose prayers, scriptures, and love will echo for generations to come.