Dolores “Dodie” Pilgrim Osteen, affectionately known as “Mama Dodie,” died on July 30, 2025, at the age of 91, at her Houston-area home, of natural causes, according to a statement from her son, televangelist Joel Osteen. Her passing was peaceful and deeply felt by her family and the global Lakewood Church community.
Born October 22, 1933, Dodie married John Osteen in 1954 and together, on Mother’s Day, May 10, 1959, founded Lakewood Baptist Church in a tent and feed store in northeast Houston. What began as a small charismatic Baptist congregation evolved into Lakewood Church, a nondenominational megachurch visited by over 50,000 worshipers weekly and broadcast across 100 countries.
Dodie was much more than a pastor’s wife—she was a spiritual leader in her own right. Following the death of her husband John in January 1999, it was Dodie’s encouragement that helped her youngest son Joel step into the senior pastor role despite his initial hesitancy. Under Joel’s leadership, Lakewood expanded by tens of thousands and relocated into the former Compaq Center by 2005.
A defining moment in Dodie’s life came in 1981, when, at the age of 48, she was diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer and given only weeks to live. Declining chemotherapy, she turned to prayer. Within weeks she believed she was healed—later writing her memoir Healed of Cancer in 1986 to document her experience. Her recovery became a cornerstone testimony for Lakewood’s identity as “An Oasis of Love in a Troubled World,” and Dodie personally continued ministering in healing prayers, outreach events, and “Night of Hope” services well into her later years.
Her warmth, humility, and devotion to prayer drew people from around the globe seeking comfort. Joel Osteen once noted “people come from all over the world to have my mother pray for them”. Dodie’s guidelines for parenting and life—shared in conversations with her daughter April and in her writings—emphasized love, kindness, positive speech, and rejoicing in simple faith.
Dodie and John raised five children—Joel, Victoria, Paul, Lisa, and Tamara—all of whom have participated in ministry roles at Lakewood. She became known as the “Queen Mother” of the church, beloved both in her family and by church members and broader Christian leaders alike.
Expressions of grief poured in quickly after the announcement. Joel described her as “the beloved matriarch of Lakewood Church, an inspiration to millions of people around the world, and a faithful servant of God”. Fellow pastors—from T.D. Jakes to Jentezen Franklin and Joseph Prince—praised her humility, grace, and enduring faith.
Mama Dodie’s legacy spans seven decades of ministry. She authored books, spoke freely about faith, attended major church milestones—such as Lakewood’s 65th anniversary in early 2024—and celebrated her 91st birthday last October surrounded by loved ones. Those who encountered her remember a woman who lived to pray, loved unconditionally, and invested deeply in the spiritual lives of others.
In a world hungry for hope, Dodie Osteen radiated belief in divine compassion and healing. Her life and ministry remain intertwined with Lakewood Church’s mission to bring love and faith to people everywhere. She will be sorely missed—but her example endures in her family, her church, and the countless people she inspired.
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