Oran Cox Jr.

Oran Lockwood Cox, Jr.

Jackson

Woody was born on August 20, 1932 in Memphis, TN to the late Oran Lockwood Cox, Sr. and Mabel Carolyn Denton Cox. He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Gayle Cox, 4 children; son Stephen Lockwood Cox (Laura) of Gainesville, FL; son Russell Arrington Cox (Becky) of Clinton, MS; son David Ryan Cox (Coleen) of Gainesville, FL; daughter Alice Virginia Davis (Greg) of Florence, MS; 5 grandchildren, Daniel Cox of Oxford, MS; Katelyn, Koty, and Ryan Davis of Florence, MS; Allison Lawyer (Haden) of Memphis, TN; and 2 great-grandchildren, Brooks and Betty Lawyer of Memphis, TN. He is also survived by his special friend, the Rev. Percy Campbell, and loyal pet companions, Buster, Coco, and Rice-Puddin.

Woody was a veteran, having served as a Lance Corporal with the United States Marine Corps and later the United States Army stationed at The Presidio. He was a Third Degree Mason. He was a member of the Jefferson Davis Camp #635 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He was a graduate of Central High School class of 1952, and attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity and later Mississippi State University. Woody was a longtime resident of the Jackson area and had many careers in his lifetime, including restaurant/bar owner, home remodeling, and automobile sales and management.

Woody and Gayle enjoyed many wonderful years together and he was especially proud of his family. Though he wasn't a professional comedian, he had a quick wit and sense of humor, and enjoyed nothing more than entertaining his many friends and family members with jokes and anecdotes. He always knew how to keep people in stitches, and most everyone that knew Woody had a favorite story or joke that he had told. Though he is no longer with us, his jokes and stories and the laughter we all shared from them will live on forever.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 9, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and a Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 2:00 p.m., both to be held at the Natchez Trace Funeral Home in Madison, MS.Memorial contributions may be made in Woody's memory to Hospice Ministries of Ridgeland, MS.