Community remembers educator who ran West End school for more than half a century
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As another Richmond summer winds down, families and teachers alike are preparing for a return to the classroom. But while one school in Henrico’s West End is getting ready to welcome back its students, they are still coming to terms with a heartbreaking goodbye.
Mary Crowder Cox died on June 27 at the age of 83. For more than 60 years, she owned and operated Jack & Jill, a private preschool and elementary school in the Tuckahoe area.
Staff members say it’s impossible to calculate how many children came through the doors over that period of time, but based on the long lines for her visitation, and a standing-room-only celebration of life gathering in early July, it’s clear Mrs. Cox made an unforgettable impact on countless people.
“Mom was the absolute best teacher, mentor, friend, accountability partner and spirit-filled mom that I could've ever hoped for,” said Pam Cox Brown, who took over running Jack & Jill when her mother retired several years ago. “Not too many people have the incredible opportunity to say that they've worked alongside their momma for 42 years—it's something I treasure so much.”
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