Margaret Elizabeth (Bush) Cox

Margaret Elizabeth Bush Cox, 102, devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at her Laurel Springs home on January 9, 2021.

Margaret was born on March 28, 1918 in Detroit, Michigan where she lived until she married Clay H. Cox on November 14, 1948 and thereafter moved to Laurel Springs, NC. They were married for 55 years.
Margaret was a 70-year-long member of Mount Zion United Methodist Church in Piney Creek where she served on various committees, participated in many church activities, and sang in the choir. She was an active member of the Alleghany Home Extension group, and delved into and excelled in various arts and crafts including basket weaving, quilting, pottery, and others too numerous to name. She volunteered in the Special Education Program at Sparta Elementary School where she helped the students. Margaret served on the Appalachian District Board of Heath from 1974-1989 . Margaret and Clay were instrumental in getting Edgewood Cottage built at Murdoch Center for Pinky and others like her. Margaret spent her lifetime being generous with her time and talents. She was loved by so many.
A trailblazer, Margaret owned a small grocery store in Detroit where she employed her parents – Claude Bush as the butcher, and Era Bush as the cashier. During WWII Margaret drove a bread truck in her home town. The profession Margaret loved most and to which she was most dedicated was being a mother. Her loving guiding hand, along with Clay’s, instilled the very best in her children. Her love for her family was evident in every meal cooked, every piece of clothing sewn, every game played, every event attended and celebrated, and many other times together. Margaret always encouraged the best in her children.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Clay H. Cox. Surviving her are four children: Alice “Pinky”, Tom (Catherine), Paula Cox-Fishman (Ted), and Beth Phipps (Lane). Four grandchildren: Melissa Cox, Taylor Cox, Austin Phipps (Carlie), and Dustin Phipps (Kayla). Five great-grandchildren: Westin Phipps, Coltin Phipps, Allie Phipps, Josie Phipps, and Jencie Phipps.

The family offers it's gratitude to the friends, caregivers, nurses, social workers, and CNAs from Hospice. Heartfelt thanks go to Margaret's loving caregivers Beckey Hash, Debbie Stone and Jodi Wiles who eased Margaret through her final Earthly journey.

Funeral services for Margaret are being conducted by Thomas Family Funeral Service and will be held at the Thomas Family Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday January 14. Visitation will commence at 10:00 and the service, conducted by Pastor Jacqueline Tookey, will follow at 11:00. Afterward there will be a private graveside service for immediate family.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Murdoch Developmental Campership Fund, 1600 East C Street, P.O. Box 3000, Butner, NC 27509.

Thomas Family Funeral Service is honored to be serving the Cox Family. If you wish, online tributes may be extended to the family at www.thomasfamilyfs.com.


   
 

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