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Hayward COX Obituary

COX, Hayward C. Hayward Carlton Cox, age 89, passed away peacefully at his home in Barnesville, GA, on September 11, 2014. Born in Richmond, VA, July 18, 1925, he moved with his family to Atlanta as a teenager and completed his high school education at North Fulton High School. He then entered the U.S. Army in 1943, and served for two years overseas during World War II, retiring with the rank of Major in the Reserves in 1985. He graduated from Emory University in 1949 and attended Emory Graduate School in 1950. He was employed by The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States from 1951 until 1982, retiring as Agency Manager in Atlanta. He then became an Adjunct Professor of Meeting Management, Hotel Convention Sales and Service, and Tourism at the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Management at Georgia State University from 1983 to 1997. He also was a Professor of Meeting Management, Hotel Convention Sales and Service for three-month programs during 1993 to 1997 at both the Centre International de Glion, in Montreaux, Switzerland, and IMHI (Cornell University-ESSEC) in Cergy-Pontoise, France. He was a Life Member of Meeting Professionals International from 1980, having served three times as President of the Georgia Chapter and 10 years as a member of the International Board. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter, Certified Meeting Professional and Certified Hospitality Educator, and held honors as the Dean's Distinguished Lecturer at the Conrad Hilton College of Hospitality and Restaurants at the University of Houston in 1995 and the annual Hayward C. Cox, CMP Award for the person having given long-time valued service to the Georgia Chapter of MPI. In 1988 he and his wife Karen moved to Barnesville, where he was a Rotarian (past President), member of the Lamar County Historical Society (past President), Barnesville Chamber of Commerce (Board member) and Lamar Arts (Board member). In 2009 Hayward and Karen were honored as Barnesville-Lamar County Citizens of the Year. He was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church in Griffin, where he served on the Vestry for two terms and was a Lector for 25 years. In addition to his wife Karen Nelson Cox of 33 years, he leaves daughters Leslie Storey (Steve), Aimee Malik (Joe), sons Hayward C. Cox III and John Cox (Liz) and two granddaughters. Upon his death his body was donated to Emory Medical School. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, September 17 at 2 pm at St. George's Episcopal Church in Griffin, with a reception immediately following at his home in Barnesville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. George's Episcopal Church or Lamar Arts.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sep. 14, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Hayward COX

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Dave Pavesic

September 8, 2023

Karen, Fond memories of you and Hayward. Tana and I will raise a toast to his memory.

Dave and Tana Pavesic

September 8, 2021

Fondly remembering Hayward as he was so dedicated to teaching meeting planning to Georgia State Hospitality students. He was one-of-a-kind not likely to be seen again. Miss you.

Dave Pavesic

September 8, 2020

Hayward was a wonderful colleague that built the meeting management program at GSU. He was revered and respected for his contributions to the meeting management association. He befriended me when I was troubled and I will always cherish our friendship with he and Karen. Fondly,
Dave Nd Tana Pavesic

Audrey Bird

June 17, 2015

Hayward was a great friend and contributed a great deal to the worldwide growth of MPI. He was an exceptional person and a good friend to everyone. He will be missed, but his many contributions to the worldwide meetings business are highly valued.

Audrey Bird

Coleman

September 20, 2014

If I could have chosen someone to be my dad it would have been Hayward Cox. Instead he was my friend, mentor and colleague. He was salt of the earth. He inspired me, and still does.

September 18, 2014

He was a great man. Will miss him.
Denise Edwards

Jan & Ben Benfield

September 17, 2014

The loss of such a dear and treasured friend. Our friendship was a special one. We shared many wonderful memories and trips to Europe. Rest in peace, dear friend.

Pat Hardy

September 16, 2014

So many laughs, so many stories, so much love..he was an inspiration, a mentor, a friend and he brought wonderful Karen into our lives. We are all blessed from knowing them both.

September 16, 2014

Hayward was a valuable member of the MPI Board. His perspective about situations as well as his sense of humor made him a joy to be with. Bob Green, CM CMP

Marsha Reynolds

September 16, 2014

Hayward was an Icon in the hospitality industry. We, in GA, were so lucky to have him as a leader, mentor and friend. He will be greatly missed but we all have so many wonderful memories of being around him. RIP, Hayward. I am sure there are some well-organized meetings happening in heaven now!

Joan Eisenstodt

September 15, 2014

Oh Karen, the years flew by and you both remained in my heart and head. So much did I learn from each and both of you.

Hayward's death hurts. He was smart, kind, a mensch.

And for you, a horrible void now.

I send you and the Cox children and grandchildren, love, comfort and gratitude for sharing a husband and father.
Love,
Joanie

Kitty Ratcliffe

September 15, 2014

I am so sorry to hear about Hayward's passing. There were many times I sought his advice and counsel in my early years in the industry. He was always available. Very sad day.

Dave Pavesic

September 14, 2014

Dear Karen,
Tana and I were saddened to learn of Hayward's passing. We are out of town until next Sunday and regrettably cannot attend the memorial service. We will always remember Hayward's laugh and humor. He supported me during a difficult time at GSU and helped me get past it. We have fond memories of both of you visiting our home and us visiting yours. Although we have not been in contacted for several years, you were in our thoughts.

September 14, 2014

May the God of all comfort be with you during this difficult time

f a

September 14, 2014

It saddens our heart to hear of your loss o HAYWARD COX. May God be a source of strength and a place of refuge during this time of sorrow. psm.62:2

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