Obituary - Mary Alice Crowder Cox

She was a woman who wore many different hats: Teacher, former Exec. Sr. Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mother, Grandmother, Wife, Aunt, Owner and Operator of Jack and Jill School for over 60 years, prayer warrior, encourager, comedian, counselor, and so many more.

While her roles may have changed with every minute that passed throughout the day, her purpose in them all remained the same: to love people and to show them the love of Jesus.

Mary Cox operated Jack and Jill School for over 60 years, a business began by her own mother in 1953. It is truly a generational business, not only run by multiple generations, but many of the students attending today are second and third generation students. These returning families provide a true testament to the way “Mrs. Cox”ran Jack and Jill. The way that she loved each child who walked through those doors, was the same way she loved her own grandchildren. The way she encouraged and uplifted each student, is the way she raised her own three children, Pam Cox Brown, Kevin Cox, and Heather Cox Hawkins. Her encouragement of her children to see themselves in a light where they had so much value, was one of the lasting pieces of her legacy. She instilled confidence, strength, and character in her three children, and always reminded them just how much Jesus loved and valued them.

While the school encompassed much of her daily life, Mary Cox was a family oriented woman. She took such pride in her five grandchildren, Mary Kaitlyn Brown, Troy Brown, Harlie Hawkins, Logan Cox, and Hollyn Hawkins. She loved spending time with them on Wednesday evenings when they would get together for “taco night” and pickle ball. Being with her family made her so happy.

An incredible wife to Gene Cox for 58 years, Mary loved to watch as her own children married their spouses and created families of their own. Her love shown towards her sons-in-law Mike Brown and Travis Hawkins, and daughter-in-law Wendy Cox, was a love that made you feel instantaneously a part of her tightly woven family unit.

But for all the many hats worn by Mary Cox, the most noteworthy and everlasting one was this: faithful servant. Her faith was inspirational to all who caught a glimpse of it in action. She was a living testament of what it meant to have unwavering faith and she touched the lives of so many people through her steadfastness. Diagnosed with cancer three separate times in her life, she chose to have faith. She chose to believe it when God said He was not finished with her yet, and there was more work to be done. Each time, the Lord healed her, and she bounced back even stronger. She survived 13 years after her first diagnosis, and during those many doctor visits, she was able to share the love of Christ with her nurses and doctors, many of whom said they had never seen a level of faith quite like hers.

She shared her testimony with anyone who needed to hear it, she shared stories of God’s goodness and redemption in her own life, and she prayed unceasingly for those who needed help. She had no fear in sharing her faith, and in talking to complete strangers about how much Jesus loved them. The countless people who came to know Christ through Mary Cox are just that… countless. But we know that when she took her last breath on this earth, and was ushered into the waiting arms of Jesus, she heard the words “well done, thy good and faithful servant” from the mouth of the very One she did it all for.

Mary Cox filled the roles of many things to many people, but to her family she was everything. The matriarch, the backbone, the glue… she filled every role perfectly. There are no words which will ever do justice to the kind of woman she was, and no words to describe how deeply her absence is felt on this earth. We know we will see her again one day, but until then we will continue doing what she taught us our entire lives… working hard, loving our family, and always putting God first. She can rest assured that her family will teach those same lessons for generations to come. All because she taught us first.

Join us to celebrate the life of Mary Cox. The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, July 9th from 5-7 PM. A Celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, July 10 at 11 AM.

Both services will be held at Woody funeral home at 1771 North Parham Road, Richmond, Virginia 23229.

A private graveside service will be held for family members following the celebration of life.