Mildred Owens Cox

Mildred Owens Cox, resident of Warner Robins, Georgia, passed from her earthly body on Saturday, March 26, 2022 and has ascended to the promised glory of everlasting life through her absolute love and faith in Jesus Christ, her Lord, and Savior. She was 98.

Ms. Cox was born May 1, 1923, in Brundidge, Alabama to Alexander Brantley Owens and Laura Smith Owens. She grew up with the love of a close-knit family (seven brothers and sisters) and a multitude of friends in the farming community of the 1920s-1930s in Brundidge. She had loving parents whose values and character shaped her and her siblings’ lives to become truly the finest and most honorable people you could ever hope to meet.

Following high school, Mildred attended and graduated from Massey Draughon Business College in Montgomery, Alabama. She initially worked for Attorney R.C. Copeland and transitioned to a position in the Veterans Administration (VA) office in Montgomery. It was there that she met the man who would become her husband, Army Air Corp officer, James (Jim) Monroe Cox Jr., who would go on to retire as an Air Force Lt. Colonel.

With him, they had, and raised, five children and traveled around the world as an Air Force family. He often said that she was the glue that kept the family intact. Mildred lost her love, Jim, in 1994.

Ms. Cox was a homemaker. She enjoyed family, friends, southern cooking, and hospitality. Like her relationships, her home and yard reflected a place of beauty and warmth. She had a great sense of style, fashion, and was the definition of a beautiful southern lady. Her favorite vacation spot was Fernandina Beach Florida at Jim’s mothers’ house on the beach. Wonderful visits every summer with Mama Cox, sister-in-law Anne and her husband Alan Parrish, made this a huge part of her joy. Family gathering and long walks on the beach, for her, it didn’t get any better.

Mildred was a devout Christian and took great comfort in the word of God. She led her life by example, demonstrating faith, grace, love, what a gift of selflessness looks like, forgiveness, inclusion, acceptance, and understanding. She inspired people of all ages and walks of life to follow the word of God. Mildred was an avid reader, prolific writer, and storyteller. She left behind many journals that were inspired by her wisdom and faith to be read for many generations to come. Her writings would warm your heart and take you to a kinder and gentler place. She truly saw the best in people and made them feel special.

She enjoyed bowling and played in several leagues throughout her life. Mildred was a devout and active member of The First United Methodist Church of Warner Robins, serving as a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Women’s Ministry for over 50 years. She loved her church family.

It gave Mildred the greatest happiness to raise her children and be blessed with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She pursued her life with perseverance and, if asked, would tell you that life was wonderful. Yet, she did not fear death.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander and Laura Owens; husband of 48 years Lt. Col. James M. Cox Jr.; son, David O. Cox; daughter, Diann Cox Kennedy; great-grandson, Alexander (Alex) Martin; great-son-in-law, Clayton Martin; sister-in-law, Anne Cox Parrish; brothers, Fox Owens, Smith Owens, and Joe Owens; sisters, Lois Guy, Ann Thompson, and Margaret MacMaster.

Left to cherish her memory is her 101-year-old sister Clarice Emerson of Montgomery Alabama; daughters; Donna (Larry) Guillory, DeeDee (Steve) Spann, and Doraine (Mike) Willis; son-in-law, Robert (Jean) Kennedy; nine Grandchildren, Lyda (Scott) Hartley, Lawrence (Becky) Guillory, David (Nancy) Guillory, Doraine Kennedy, Dayna (Richard) Vizzini, April Austin (Corey Hopper), Emily Willis, Erica, and James Spann; 13 great-grandchildren, Ryan (Carly) Kennedy, Conner Vizzini, Alexandria Harbin, Thomas and Elizabeth Hartley, Daisy Guillory, Owen and Joseph Guillory, Brayden Hopper, Amelia Austin, Mason Spann, Ellie Kate, and Dallas Bond; and two great-great grandchildren, Camille and Clayton Kennedy.

Mildred’s service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at First United Methodist Church of Warner Robins. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Magnolia Park Cemetery.

For friends and family unable to attend, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

Learn more about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at www.mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.