Clinton Courier-News, September 23, 1992:
Wilma Laura Jones Cox, 75, who owned and operated Cox Funeral Home in Lake City for more than 50 years, died Sept. 18 after a long illness.
She was a licensed funeral director. She and her late husband, Clyde C. Cox, worked together many years.
The husband, who died March 15, 1976, began working for Miller Funeral Home in Coal Creek in the 1930s and later became a partner with Carl P. Miller, at which time the name was changed to Miller Cox Funeral Home. The partnership bought out Weaver Undertaking Co. in 1940 and then in 1941, Cox bought his partner’s interest to establish Cox Funeral Home.
The daughter of the late Charlie Melton and Julia Elizabeth Gallaher Jones, Cox was born Oct. 12, 1916 in the Edgemoor community (now Claxton) in Anderson County. She moved to Clinton as a young girl and later worked at First National Bank of Coal Creek. In June, Cox received an engraved plaque in recognition of 50 years of service from the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association.
“I’ve known her all my life,” said Vivian Weatherford, owner of Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge. “She was dedicated to her family’s business. She was really thought well of in Lake City and will be missed by her friends and business associates.” An active member of the community, Cox was a member of Lake City United Methodist Church and a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star, Coal Creek Chapter 226. She enjoyed playing bridge and growing violets.
In addition to her husband, Cox was preceded in death by a son, Joe Mac Cox, who died of a heart attack Aug. 11, 1991.
Cox is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Gordon and Janie Cox of Lake City, and two grandsons, Glenn Cox and John Cox, both of Lake City; a sister, Reba Gamble of Maryville; a brother, Charlie Jones of Knoxville; and two sisters-in-law, Rubye Paeper of Lake City and Francis Jones of Seymour. Two sisters and a brother, Helena Campbell, Ada Sams and Howard Jones, also died earlier.
The funeral was held Sept. 22 at Lake City UMC with the Rev. Charles Turpin officiating. Burial was in Sunset Cemetery, Clinton. Cox Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Lake City UMC Building Fund, P. O. Box 406, Lake City, Tenn. 37769.
(With picture)
[Transcribed by Stephanie A. Hill from a photocopy of the microfilm in the genealogy vertical files at the Lake City Library.]