“A faithful servant of God, a matriarch of miracles, and a friend to us all.”
At CCM Magazine, we join millions around the world in honoring the remarkable life of Dolores “Dodie” Osteen—beloved mother, grandmother, and cherished matriarch of Lakewood Church. Affectionately known as “Mama Dodie,” she spent 91 years on this side of heaven, living a life defined by faith, miracles, and unwavering compassion.
Alongside her husband John Osteen, Dodie helped start Lakewood Church. She and John were partners in every sense. Dodie once recalled with a smile, “I had never gone out with anybody else. I didn’t know how to act. I called him, Brother Osteen this and Brother Osteen that. He said, ‘Would you please quit calling me Brother Osteen and call me John.’” (Source: Click2Houston)
After their newborn daughter Lisa was born with serious health challenges, the Osteens’ hearts began to shift. Healing was no longer just a concept found in Scripture—it became a belief, a reality, and a lifelong mission.
On Mother’s Day 1959, in a dusty feed store in northeast Houston, they launched Lakewood Baptist Church—later simply Lakewood Church. From the beginning, Dodie’s warmth shaped the atmosphere. Her kindness helped give the church its nickname: “An Oasis of Love in a Troubled World.”
In 1981 she was diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer and given just weeks to live. Doctors offered little hope—but Dodie and John clung to God’s Word and His promises. What was supposed to be weeks became over 44 additional years of life and ministry.
The Osteen family shared: “She was the beloved matriarch of Lakewood Church, an inspiration to millions of people around the world, and a faithful servant of God… Known as ‘Mama Dodie’ to the entire Lakewood family, together, we celebrate her amazing life and lasting legacy. She passed of natural causes, peacefully at her home. She was 91 years old.”
Let us lift up the Osteen family in prayer during this time of loss. They’ve been faithful friends, pastors, and mentors to so many—whether in person or through the screen—offering guidance in our darkest moments. Their steady leadership is part of Dodie’s enduring legacy, and her light will continue to shine through every corner of Lakewood today.
In her honor, we encourage readers to watch the interview we did last month with Alexandra Osteen, her granddaughter and the heart behind Lakewood Music. That worship ministry, now reaching millions, is built on the prayers and faith of Mama Dodie.
“Give a smile, give a hug, buy lunch, dinner for somebody. Do something for somebody special.”
— Dodie Osteen (Click2Houston)