Women of Note
From a refugee camp to achieving her dreams, Fay Odeh continues sharing what she has learned
by Chuck Wisman
Six thousand miles from Stockbridge and nearly 80 years ago, a young girl was born and raised in the town of Jimzu, Palestine. As the firstborn, she was given the name of Fathieh, meaning “the beginning.”
In 1948, the family of 11 was forced to flee their home as result of the Nakba, the forced displacement of families following the founding of Israel in the Middle East. Her father owned and operated a flour mill and olive oil press in Jimzu, and both were abandoned. As a result, Fathieh and her family became refugees living in a tent camp.
While in the refugee camp, Fathieh was inspired by a white female teacher (likely English). Fathieh thought if that woman could be successful and independent, so could she. Her dream was coming to the United States to find that success.
Such was the early life of the woman later known as Fay Odeh—a successful mother, wife, and businesswoman who has resided in Stockbridge since the mid-1970s.
Fay met her husband-to-be, Mustafa “Steve” Odeh, in Ramallah, Palestine. They applied for a visa and arrived here in 1965, settling near Woodward Avenue and Six Mile Road in Detroit. Fay’s first order of business was learning English. She attended Oakland Community College and then Wayne State University, completing a degree in psychology. Steve attained a graduate degree from the University of Michigan and then taught at Schoolcraft and Wayne County Community College. During this time, Steve and Fay opened a restaurant in Farmington called “Steve’s Winter Palace.” In 1976, Steve and Fay began building their future home in a rural area of Stockbridge where Fay resides to this day. Following their move to Stockbridge, she became a substitute teacher in the Stockbridge school district.
In 1980, Steve and Fay leased and later purchased a restaurant in Jackson, renaming it “Steve’s Ranch,” and it operates to this day. During these transitions, Steve and Fay had eight children. Six of their children graduated from Stockbridge High School and two graduated from Lumen Christi in Jackson.
Their first child, Hana, a scientist with her doctorate degree, is working as a genetic researcher at the National Institute of Health. Next their daughter, Reema, is a retired firefighter and EMT. Daughter, Buthina, has a doctorate in pharmacology and is currently employed as a senior executive at Genentech, a biotech company. Rudina “Rudy” has a doctorate in pharmacology and is an assistant dean at the Columbia School of Medicine. Yousef (“Joe”) is a cardiologist and leads a heart transplant team in Arizona. Tariq has a master’s degree in business and works in property management and construction in Hawaii. Son Jaffer is an anesthesiologist at a Dallas hospital. And the youngest of the Odehs, Ramy, graduated from Fordham University’s law school and works as an attorney in New York City.
In August 2004, Steve suddenly passed away from a heart attack, leaving Fay with sole responsibility for the home and Steve’s Ranch. This was one of the most difficult times of Fay’s life, as previously Steve had managed the restaurant, the paperwork and the taxes. Initially she didn’t think she was capable of operating the restaurant alone, but her own drive for success and the support of her children proved her wrong. The restaurant is still thriving, even after surviving the worst of the COVID pandemic when the restaurant closed temporarily for over a year.
“On behalf of all of my siblings, I can say we are truly blessed to have been raised by such a lovely person,” Ramy Odeh shared. He added, “From driving us to 6 a.m. sport practices to cooking dinner for ten after a hard day’s work, she has always held our awe and admiration. She deserves endless recognition for all her accomplishments, and I hope that we can all strive to each be a little more like her.”
Raising eight children and keeping the family restaurant afloat is no small feat. Not surprising, Fay was recently selected to receive this year’s Nike Award from the Jackson Professional Women’s Association. It will be presented at the annual Jackson Economic Club luncheon.
The award “specifically recognizes those in business locally who are making an impact in their community by giving back and volunteering. This award represents progress, strength, freedom, and triumphs while facing adversity—including prejudice and other limitations.”
Somehow Fay has also found time to personally assist and support Arabic students attending East Jackson Schools who had minimal English skills. As such, the East Jackson School District has recommended Fay for a Daughter of the American Revolution award for supporting student success.
On top of the above awards, Fay also judges pies at the Waterloo Farm Museum’s annual Pioneer Day and donates food to Jackson’s Interfaith Shelter and Meals on Wheels. And there’s more! She participates in the annual Jackson Office on Aging’s “Soups Are On” fundraiser.
With all of her achievements and the adversity she’s overcome in her life, she’s most proud of her children and their great successes—which all began with their education.
“You can lose everything: your house, your home, your job, your wealth. But you can never lose the education you earned,” Fay reminds people.
Fay currently has 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She foresees that her children’s successes will continue with their own children as well.
Looking back over her life, Fay recalls, “Those years in a refugee camp instilled in me the strongest of desires for freedom. I saw America as that freedom and dreamed of coming to live here.”
The years Faye Odeh spent as a young girl in a refugee camp instilled a strong desire for freedom and success, which she pursued—and achieved. She credits education as a big part of her and her family’s success. Photo credit: Chuck Wisman
Faye Odeh surrounded by her appreciative family. Front row (l-r): Tariq and Joe. Second row (l-r): Rudina, Fay, and Buthina. Third row (l-r): Hana, Jaffer and Ramy. Not pictured: Reema. Photo provided by Fay Odeh.
